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Lorena Gonzalez (California politician)

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Lorena Gonzalez
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 80th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 28, 2013
Preceded byBen Hueso
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)San Diego, California
ProfessionSecretary Treasurer, San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council (organized labor)

Lorena Gonzalez is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. Gonzalez represents the 80th district, encompassing southern San Diego, the southernmost district in the state.

Prior to being elected to the state assembly, Gonzalez served as secretary-treasurer and CEO of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Early life, education, and personal life

Lorena Gonzalez is the daughter of an immigrant farmworker and a nurse. She attended public schools in San Diego County before earning a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a master’s degree from Georgetown University, and a Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law.

Gonzalez served as Senior Adviser to former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, as well as appointee to the California State Lands Commission and alternate on the California Coastal Commission. A community organizer and activist, Gonzalez was elected in 2008 as CEO and Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO. She is the first woman and person of color to be elected to head the Labor Council since the organization was founded in 1891.

Lorena Gonzalez lives in San Diego with her two children, Tierra and Antonio.[1]

California government career

2005 San Diego City Council race

Gonzalez ran for San Diego City Council during a 2005 special election and advanced to a runoff against future San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. However, Gonzalez ultimately lost the race to Faulconer by a margin of 724 votes out of 29,448 cast.[2]

California State Assembly

Gonzalez was elected to California's 80th State Assembly district in a special election held May 21, 2013. She defeated former Chula Vista Councilmember Steve Castaneda with 70.75% of the vote.[3]

Gonzalez currently serves on the Assembly Committee on Education, the Assembly Committee on Health, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife; and the Assembly Committee on Rules.[4] She is also the first Chair of the Select Committee on Women in the Workplace.[5]

Key Legislation

Lorena Gonzalez marching in the 2014 San Diego LGBT Pride Parade

Several pieces of Gonzalez's legislation have been among the only bills to secure passage and signature by the Governor despite being opposed strongly by the Chamber of Commerce.[6]

In January 2014, Gonzalez introduced AB 1522, which requires employers grant sick days to part-time employees.[7] The legislation was signed by Governor Jerry Brown in September 2014, granting paid sick leave to about 6.5 million Californians.[8] Other bills introduced by Gonzalez and signed into law in 2014 include AB 1873, which allows San Diego County to fill special election vacancies for Congress and the state Legislature by mail ballot until 2020;[9][10] AB 2104, which allows residents to implement drought-tolerant landscaping without drawing penalties from homeowners associations;[11][12] AB 2347, which requires specific notices to be placed on the cover page of annuities and life insurance policies;[13] AB 2051, which makes it easier for affiliate primary care clinics to enroll into Medi-Cal and Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment;[14][15] and AB 2053, which adds instructions on abusive conduct (bullying) to workplace sexual harassment training.[16][17]

In 2015, Gonzalez introduced a measure that would require double pay when a company makes workers come in on the Christmas or Thanksgiving holidays.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Lorena Gonzalez - Official Biography". http://asmdc.org/. California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  2. ^ "Election History - Council District 2" (PDF). City of San Diego. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  3. ^ "COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO SPECIAL CONSOLIDATED ELECTION Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Official Results" (PDF). sdvote.com. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Committee Assignments". http://asmdc.org. California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  5. ^ "Speaker John A. Pérez Creates Select Committee on Women in the Workplace, Names Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez as Chair". asmdc.org. California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  6. ^ "All But Three CalChamber Opposed Bills Die".
  7. ^ "AB-1522 Employment: paid sick days". https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  8. ^ "Jerry Brown signs bill requiring employers to give paid sick leave". http://www.sacbee.com/. Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  9. ^ "AB 1873, Gonzalez. Special mail ballot elections: San Diego County". http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  10. ^ Nichols, Chris. "Brown signs mail-ballot election bill". http://www.utsandiego.com/. http://www.utsandiego.com/. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  11. ^ "AB 2104, Gonzalez. Common interest developments". http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  12. ^ Nichols, Chris. "'Brown is beautiful' landscaping bill signed by governor". http://www.utsandiego.com/. http://www.utsandiego.com/. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  13. ^ "AB 2347, Gonzalez. Insurance policies". http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  14. ^ "AB 2051, Gonzalez. Medi-Cal: providers: affiliate primary care clinics". http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  15. ^ Gorn, David. "New Law To Shorten Medi-Cal Application Process for Community Clinic Startups". http://www.californiahealthline.org. http://www.californiahealthline.org. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  16. ^ "AB 2053, Gonzalez. Employment discrimination or harassment: education and training: abusive conduct". http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |website= (help)
  17. ^ Joseph, Brian. "Here Are All the New State Laws Written by San Diego Legislators". http://voiceofsandiego.org. Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 11 November 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  18. ^ http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/nov/26/lorena-gonzalez-california-politics-labor-worker/

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