Alex Padilla
Encyclopedia
Alejandro "Alex" Padilla (born March 22, 1973) is a California
State Senator. He was elected as the state senator
for California's 20th State Senate district
in November 2006 and was inaugurated in early December. Prior to serving in the Senate he served 7½ years on the Los Angeles City Council
representing the 7th District. First elected in 1999, he was elected council president in July 2001 and remained president through December 31, 2005.
before meeting and marrying in Los Angeles
.
Padilla grew up in the community of Pacoima
in Los Angeles and is a graduate of San Fernando High School
in the northeast San Fernando Valley
. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1994. After graduation, he moved back to Pacoima and briefly worked as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft
, where he wrote software
for satellite
systems.
He has served as president of the League of California Cities and was both its youngest-ever president and the first Latino
to lead the league. He currently serves as chair of the Los Angeles Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association
. Padilla previously was a staff member to United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
and California State Assembly
member Tony Cardenas
.
Padilla was named one of America
's "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business magazine.
and the days immediately following when mayor James Hahn
was stranded in Washington, D.C.
In addition to chairing the Energy Committee, Senator Padilla serves on the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee; the Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Revenues and the Economy; the Education Committee; the Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee; the Natural Resources and Water Committee; the Public Employment and Retirement Committee; the Revenue and Taxation Committee; and the Government Organization Committee. He also Chairs the Select Committee on Obesity & Diabetes and the Select Committee on College and University Admissions and Outreach.
announced that he had chosen Padilla as the chairman for his 2010 California gubernatorial campaign.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
State Senator. He was elected as the state senator
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
for California's 20th State Senate district
California's 20th State Senate district
California's 20th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Alex Padilla of Los Angeles. The district encompasses a part of Los Angeles County in the San Fernando Valley, including all of San Fernando and more than a fifth of Los...
in November 2006 and was inaugurated in early December. Prior to serving in the Senate he served 7½ years on the Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
representing the 7th District. First elected in 1999, he was elected council president in July 2001 and remained president through December 31, 2005.
Biography
Padilla is one of three children of Santos and Lupe Padilla, both of whom emigrated from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
before meeting and marrying in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Padilla grew up in the community of Pacoima
Pacoima, Los Angeles, California
Pacoima is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California.It is bordered by the Los Angeles districts of Mission Hills on the west, Arleta on the south, Sun Valley on the southeast, Lake View Terrace on the northeast, and by the city of San Fernando on the north...
in Los Angeles and is a graduate of San Fernando High School
San Fernando High School
San Fernando High School, located in San Fernando, California, is a secondary school that is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District....
in the northeast San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1994. After graduation, he moved back to Pacoima and briefly worked as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
, where he wrote software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
for satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
systems.
He has served as president of the League of California Cities and was both its youngest-ever president and the first Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
to lead the league. He currently serves as chair of the Los Angeles Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is a United States-based association working to fight the consequences of diabetes, and to help those affected by diabetes...
. Padilla previously was a staff member to United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein is the senior U.S. Senator from California. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Senate since 1992. She also served as 38th Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988....
and California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
member Tony Cardenas
Tony Cardenas
Tony Cardenas is an American politician. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the Sixth Council District which covers portions of the southeast San Fernando Valley, including the communities of Arleta, Pacoima, Sun Valley, North Hollywood, Panorama City, Van Nuys...
.
Padilla was named one of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business magazine.
City Council service
Padilla was elected to the Los Angeles City Council on June 8, 1999, at the age of 26. Two years later he was elected council president. As president he served as acting mayor of Los Angeles during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
and the days immediately following when mayor James Hahn
James Hahn
James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn is an American politician. Hahn was elected the 40th Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He served until 2005, at which time he was defeated in his bid for re-election...
was stranded in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
State Senate service
On December 4, 2006 Alex Padilla was sworn in as a member of the California State Senate representing the 20th District. His first two years, Padilla served on the Senate Rules Committee which confirms gubernatorial appointments and refers all bills in the Senate. In December 2008, Senator Padilla was named Chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.In addition to chairing the Energy Committee, Senator Padilla serves on the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee; the Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Revenues and the Economy; the Education Committee; the Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee; the Natural Resources and Water Committee; the Public Employment and Retirement Committee; the Revenue and Taxation Committee; and the Government Organization Committee. He also Chairs the Select Committee on Obesity & Diabetes and the Select Committee on College and University Admissions and Outreach.
Gavin Newsom's Gubernatorial Campaign
On Wednesday July 15, 2009, San Francisco Mayor Gavin NewsomGavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
announced that he had chosen Padilla as the chairman for his 2010 California gubernatorial campaign.