Ed Hernandez

Ed Hernandez
Hernandez with Monterey Park, California city officials in October 2015, from left to right: City Clerk Vincent Dionicio Chang, City Council Member Teresa Real Sebastian, Mayor Peter Chan, Hernández, City Council Member Hans Liang
Member of the California State Senate from the 22nd district 24th district (2010–2014)
Incumbent
Assumed office December 6, 2010
Preceded by	Gloria Romero
Member of the California State Assembly from the 57th district
In office December 4, 2006 – December 6, 2010
Preceded by	Ed Chavez
Succeeded by	Roger Hernandez
Personal details
Born	Edward Paul Hernandez (1957-10-17) October 17, 1957 Montebello, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Diane Hernandez
Children	Valerie Jennifer
Residence	West Covina, California
Alma mater	Indiana University California State University, Fullerton
Profession	Optometrist

Edward Paul "Ed" Hernández (born October 17, 1957) is an American optometrist and California State Senator who has represented the 22nd Senate district since 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, he serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health for the California State Senate. Previously, he served in the California Assembly, representing the 57th Assembly District from 2006 until 2010, when he ran for an open Senate seat. The district includes the cities of Azusa Baldwin Park Covina, La Puente, and West Covina.

Personal life and career

Hernández is a native of La Puente and he graduated from Bassett High School. Hernández earned his bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton and he earned his optometry degree from Indiana University. In 2000 and 2001, Hernández served as president of the California Optometric Association. Prior to serving in the Assembly, he was President of the California Board of Optometry.

Hernández main legislative priorities are providing quality, affordable health care to residents in California, increasing access to health care for all Californians, and implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He has donated his time and skills from his training to the community by providing free eye care to low-income children and working with the local schools to examine the eyes of thousands of school children. He also has given free care to at-risk diabetic patients.

Hernández is married to Diane, also an optometrist. He has one daughter from that marriage, and one from a previous marriage. The Hernández family resides in Azusa.

2010 Election

In 2010, Hernández ran a successful campaign for the California State Senate, to represent the 22nd Senate district. He is running unopposed in the 2014 election, and will be termed out of the Senate in 2018.

SCA 5

Hernández authored and introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment No.5 (SCA5), which proposed an amendment to the Constitution of the State to repeal portions of California Proposition 209, in order to allow the State of California to consider race in student admissions. It was passed in the California Senate on Jan. 30, 2014. Proposition 209 prohibits state government institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting, and public education. Proposition 209 is considered by others to be a proposition which has resulted in low minority enrollment , and to have been driven by racial divisions.

External links

• Official website