Warren Furutani

Warren T. Furutani
Member of the California State Assembly from the 55th district
In office February 7, 2008 – November 30, 2012
Preceded by	Laura Richardson
Succeeded by	Curt Hagman
Personal details
Born	(1947-10-16) October 16, 1947 San Pedro, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Lisa
Residence	Gardena, California
Alma mater	Antioch University
Profession	Politician

Warren T. Furutani (born October 16, 1947) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat and a fourth-generation Japanese American. Furutani was elected in a special election in 2008. He replaced Laura Richardson who won a special election to replace Juanita Millender-McDonald as the member of the US House of Representatives from California's 37th district. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, he served on the Los Angeles Unified School District and then the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees. Furutani is a graduate of Antioch University. In 1987, he became the first Asian Pacific American ever elected to the LAUSD and was the Board's President in 1991. He graduated from Gardena High School in 1965. He attended several community colleges, and earned a B.A. degree from Antioch University. He and his wife, Lisa, are residents of Gardena.

Controversy

On June 15, 2011, during an Assembly debate on a redevelopment bill, Assemblyman Donald Wagner remarked that the bill was like something he had "seen on The Sopranos" and likened the author of the bill to Tony Soprano. After Assemblyman Anthony Portantino told Wagner to apologize for the remarks, Wagner replied that he would "apologize to any Italian-American who is NOT in the Mafia or involved in insurance scams". Within seconds, a verbal confrontation erupted on the Assembly floor between Wagner and Furutani and the two had to be separated.

External links

• Campaign Website
• "Warren Furutani" by Karen Inouye, Densho Encyclopedia