Candidate for
State Senator; District 20; Democratic Party

Assemblymember Cindy Montaņez is considered a rising star in the ranks of the California Legislature. Elected to represent the 39th District in 2002 at the age of 28 + the youngest women to ever win an Assembly seat + Assemblymember Montaņez quickly parlayed her leadership skills, strong work ethic, fairness and keen ability to grasp complex policy issues. As a legislator, Assemblymember Montaņez has achieved a level of effectiveness enjoyed by only a skilled few.

In February 2004, at the age of 30, Assemblymember Montaņez was appointed by the Assembly Speaker as chairperson of the powerful Rules Committee, becoming the first woman ever appointed to that influential position.

As chairperson of the Rules Committee, Assemblymember Montaņez is a gatekeeper to every piece of legislation introduced in the Capitol, holding bills or referring them to the appropriate policy committee. She also oversees the Assembly's $115 million operational budget.

In Sacramento, she has strived to work on legislation and budget items that provide the greatest benefits to the residents of the San Fernando Valley. Fighting to protect public safety, clean-up the urban environment, provide greater health care access, improve public education, maintain public employee pensions, improve our transportation system and protect consumers and working families have been the hallmarks of her tenure in the Assembly.

Landmark legislation by Assemblymember Montaņez includes: the Car Buyer's Bill of Rights, providing the strongest consumer protections in the nation for new and used car buyers, and; the California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004, a measure designed to mitigate the environmental, social, and economic detriments experienced by urban neighborhoods created by the underutilization of contaminated and abandoned industrial sites.

Assemblymember Montaņez's career in politics began in 1999 when she was elected the youngest person ever to the San Fernando City Council. She became the city's Mayor in 2001 and created a strong resume of accomplishments, including the construction of a new library, expanding a community center and crafting new plans for commercial business development. Her dedication to public service is borne out of a strong sense of social justice and equality, which she demonstrated during her first year at UCLA through her leadership role in the historic 14-day hunger strike that established the Cesar E. Chavez Center.

Assemblymember Montaņez currently serves the communities of San Fernando, Pacoima, Sylmar, Panorama City, Sun Valley, Mission Hills, Arleta and Valley View, which comprises nearly 48% of the Democratic voters in the 20th State Senate District.