Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 69; Democratic Party

Born and raised in Orange County, Armando hails from a working class family that taught him the values of hard work and community service. From one-time busboy to bank vice-president, Armando knows what it takes to get the job done.

Armando has an impressive mix of public, private, and non-profit experience includes working for the Office of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez; the U.S. Cenus Bureau; and the U.S. State Department. He currently works for Wells Fargo Bank as Vice President of Community Development and serves on various community boards. This background has prepared Armando for government service that addresses the needs of a diverse community with common concerns through creative problem-solving.

As a congressional aide, Armando responded to community and legislative needs in housing, public safety, and banking. Armando took part in efforts to revitalize Anaheim's Jeffrey-Lynne neighborhood (now Hermosa Village) by working with property owners and residents. He also brought state law enforcement experts to the district for forums on crime prevention and worked on legislation to protect senior citizens from physical and financial abuse.

Armando's work for the U.S. Census resulted in a substantial increase in population count for Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Garden Grove. Santa Ana and Anaheim showed the most improved participation rate over any other large cities in the entire United States. This resulted in a more accurate share of resources for our area.

Armando designs community lending and investment programs that support affordable housing, financial literacy, small business development, and job training. During his first year with Wells Fargo, Armando doubled the bank's local community reinvestment. The result has been improved access to banking services, rehabilitation of dilapidated housing, and more support for local charities. In Armando's role at Wells Fargo, Armando has made difficult decisions to direct limited resources in a way that improves quality of life for people.

Armando has demonstrated a strong commitment to volunteer service. He serves on the Board of the Kennedy Commission and Human Options--a battered women's shelter. He serves as an Advisor to KidWorks. He also served on the U.C Berkeley Engineering Alumni Society board for two terms. He served as Chair of the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF), Vice Chair of the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), an Advisor for the Black Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Weed-n-Seed / SAINT Economic Development Subcommittee.

Armando has been honored by local leaders for his contributions to the community. In recent years, he has received OCAPICA's Community Development Action Award, KinderCaminata's Leadership Award in Education, the Giraffe Award from SAUSD, the NCCJ Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Peter E. Haas Public Service Award, the City of Santa Ana Community Buildling Award, the Neighborhood Housing Services Neighborhood Hero Award, the Future Leaders of America 'FLAMA' Award, and a Business Impact Award from Orange County's United Way.

Armando's educational background includes a civil engineering degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Armando's wife Belinda owns an Information Technology consulting firm and serves on the region's YMCA Board of Managers. Armando and Belinda are homeowners in Santa Ana.