Anthony Portantino
| Anthony J. Portantino | |
|---|---|
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 44th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 6, 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | Carol Liu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 29, 1961 Long Branch, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Portantino |
| Children | Sofia Bella Rose |
| Residence | La Cañada Flintridge, California |
| Alma mater | Albright College |
| Occupation | Production Designer |
| Website | Official Assembly Website |
Anthony J. Portantino (born January 29, 1961 in Long Branch, New Jersey), has represented California's 44th assembly district since December 2006. He is a Democrat.
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[edit] Entertainment career
Assemblyman Portantino came to California in 1986 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He co-wrote and produced the film Time of Tears which was distributed by New World Pictures. He was the Line Producer of the Spanish Christmas movie El Regaldo do Paquito for Telemundo. Assemblyman Portantino also worked as an Art Director for several NBC series which include Unsolved Mysteries, and Story Behind the Story and Final Appeal. He also was the Production Designer for The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams and the Mark of the Bear.
[edit] Political career
Assemblyman Portantino served two terms on the La Cañada Flintridge City Council from 1999 until 2006. He served as Mayor from 2001 until 2002 and from 2005 until 2006. In addition, he was President of the League of California Cities Mayor's and Councilmember's Department, Vice Chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee and Board Member for the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
In 2008, Assemblymember Portantino was mentioned as one of the eleven possible for Speaker of the Assembly. He was also one of the Democrats who met in order to thwart the ascent of Assemblymember Karen Bass. There were fears that outgoing Speaker Fabian Nunez was going to have Bass ascend to the speakership with Republican votes if there were not enough Democratic votes. Bass ended up being elected by the Democrats and as a result, Portantino was stripped of his chairmanship of the Higher Education Committee.[1]
In 2011, Portantino introduced legislation banning open carry of firearms, even if unloaded.[2]
Portantino was the only Assembly Democrat to voted no on the state budget in June of 2011. For his vote Democrat state leaders in the [| chamber's Rules Committee] are punishing him for his no vote on their budget. His office budget was cut and his Sacramento and local staff may be placed on unpaid leave for a month or more. [3] In return, he put in AB 1378 that required legislative employees to be given legal protection from reprisals for reporting government wrongdoing such as waste or abuse. [4]
[edit] Not Running for Office in 2012
On January 18, 2012 Portantino reported that he needs to care for his ailing mother, Barbara Portantino, back East, in New Jersey and will not be running for Office in 2012. He was to run for US Congress, he raised about $300,000 for the run for Congress. But now after the California redistricting, he is in the same district as incumbent Rep. Adam Schiff, D- Pasadena. Incumbent Rep. Judy Chu, D- Monterey Park has already reported that she will run in the district next to Portantino, that includes some of the cities that Portantino represents as an Assemblyman. [5] [6]
[edit] Education
Assemblyman Portantino graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania with a BS in Psychology/Business.
[edit] Personal
Assemblyman Portantino is married to Ellen Portantino who also graduated from Albright College. Assemblyman and Mrs. Portantino have two daughters. Sofia, nineteen, attends a University of California school and Isabella, nine, attend public school.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/011111.html
- ^ Miller, Terry (April 12, 2011). "Portantino’s Bill Banning "Open Carry" of Handguns Passes Key Committee | Latest News | Pasadena Independent". pasadenaindependent.com. http://pasadenaindependent.com/latest_news/portantinos-bill-banning-open-carry-of-handguns-passes-key-committee/. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ LA times, July 12, 2011|By Michael J. Mishak, Los Angeles Times, Portantino accuses Democrats of reprisal for budget opposition
- ^ ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SIDELINES PORTANTINO’S WHISTLEBLOWER BILL (AB 1378) govbuddy.com, 19 Jan 2012
- ^ Portantino Not Running for Office in 2012, South Pasadena Patch, January 18, 2012
- ^ Pasadenanow Assemblymember Anthony Portantino Announces He Will Not Run for Office, Published: Wednesday, January 18, 2012]
[edit] External links
[edit] Succession boxes
| California Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Carol Liu |
Assemblymember, 44th Assembly District 2006 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
