Ed Hernandez

Ed Hernández
Member of the California Senate
from the 22nd district
24th district (2010–2014)
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 Hernández
Personal details
Born Edward Paul Hernandez
(1957-10-17) October 17, 1957
Montebello, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Diane Hernández
Children 2
Education California State University, Fullerton (BS)
Indiana University, Bloomington (OD)

Edward Paul Hernández (born October 17, 1957) is an American politician serving in the California State Senate since 2010. A Democrat, he represents the 22nd Senate district since 2014, which includes the San Gabriel Valley cities of Alhambra, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, La Puente, San Gabriel, and West Covina. Prior to the 2014 redistricting, he represented the 24th Senate district.

Hernandez is a member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. An optometrist, he currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health.[1] Prior to his election to the State Senate in 2010, he served in the California State Assembly, representing the 57th Assembly district from 2006 until 2010.

In 2016, Hernandez announced that he would run to replace Gavin Newsom as lieutenant governor in 2018.

Personal life and career

Hernández, a grandson of immigrants 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

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

In 2010, Hernández ran a successful campaign for the California State Senate, to represent the 22nd Senate district. He was reelected to the Senate in 2014, and is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2018.

SCA 5

Hernández authored and introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment No.5 (SCA5),[2] 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.[3] 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 ,[4] and to have been driven by racial divisions.[5]. However, following resistance from various citizen groups, including Asian American groups, Senator Hernandez withdrew his measure from consideration.

References

  1. ↑ "WesternU lecture by Sen. Hernandez to focus on health care changes". Western University of Health Sciences. 2013-03-20.
  2. ↑ "Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 5 (May 30, 2013)". 2014-02-25.
  3. ↑ "Senate Vote on SCA 5 (Jan 30, 2014)". 2014-02-24.
  4. ↑ "California Proposition 209: Minority Enrollments Down In UC Schools Despite Diversity Efforts".
  5. ↑ "The Revolution against Affirmative Action in California: Racism, Economics, and Proposition 209" (PDF).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.