Primary Election Date: 05/19/2009
General Election Date: 07/14/2009

Who Am I?

I have dedicated my life to improving the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley. For the past 23 years, I have represented San Gabriel Valley neighborhoods as a local School Board member, Mayor and City Council member, State Assembly Member and as a member of the California State Board of Equalization.

I have been a longtime friend of Hilda Solis and am proud to have the support of her family in the campaign to fill Hilda's seat in Congress.

Why Am I Running?

My number one priority will be to work with the Obama Administration to quickly bring economic stimulus funding into our communities, stop rising unemployment rates and protect vital public services, including our schools, from devastating cuts.

I will work to bring 21st Century “Green Collar” jobs to the San Gabriel Valley, including jobs in conservation, public transit, biotech and alternative energy.

Hold Me Accountable!

Solving the fiscal crisis and returning jobs to the San Gabriel Valley.

Improving and expanding access to education

Improving our environment, both by cleaning up the air and water in the San Gabriel Valley and by transitioning to a green collar economy that will benefit both our economy and our environment.

My DFA values:

I am proud to be a social progressive. I started out in public service working to defeat an English-only ordinance, have fought for workers' rights as well as marriage equality and have a record of fighting for a clean environment and renewable energy. Fiscal responsibility is extremely important to me. In the Assembly I was chair of the appropriations committee and wrote and fought for the most successful tax amnesty bill in the nation's history. Having served on the Board of Equalization, I have overseen the tax collection of the state of California and know first hand the extent to which corporations are exploiting tax loopholes. I hope to take the lead on these issues in Washington.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

I am the only one running who has a voting base in the district that goes back 23 years. I am a proud member of several Democratic clubs in the district, which all endorsed me at their candidates forum recently. These are more than constituents, they are longtime friends and fellow activists.

Also, grassroots organizing was how I was able to win the endorsement of the California Democratic Party. Thanks to almost 300 grassroots activists who showed up, waited in the hot sun for a long time, and voted for me, I won the endorsement with 100% of the vote.