Luis Angel Alejo (born March 27, 1974) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly representing the 30th Assembly District, encompassing the Pajaro and Salinas valleys. He currently serves as a County Supervisor for the County of Monterey.
Luis Alejo | |
|---|---|
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| Chair of Monterey County | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mary L. Adams |
| Member of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors from the 1st District | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Fernando Armenta |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 30th district 28th district (2010–2012) | |
| In office December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Anna Caballero |
| Succeeded by | Anna Caballero |
| Mayor of Watsonville, California | |
| In office November 17, 2009 – November 30, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Rivas |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Dodge |
| Member of the Watsonville City Council from the 2nd District | |
| In office December 4, 2008 – November 30, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Oscar Rios |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Rios |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Luis Angel Alejo[1] March 27, 1974 Watsonville, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA) Harvard University (MEd) University of California Davis (JD) |
Biography
editEarly life
editBorn and raised in Watsonville, Alejo's family came to work in the agricultural fields of the Salinas, Santa Clara and Pajaro Valleys as migrant farmworkers in the 1950s.
Alejo graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with dual bachelor's degrees in political science and Chicano studies, and obtained his master's of education degree from Harvard University in administration, planning and social policy. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall), where he won the "Maggie Schelen" scholarship for public service.
After finishing his graduate and professional studies, Alejo returned to his hometown of Watsonville to work as a legal aid attorney where he championed the rights of working families throughout the Monterey Bay area. He then worked as a staff attorney for the Monterey County Superior Court, where he assisted thousands of self-represented litigants throughout Monterey County who couldn't afford private attorneys. He has also worked as a high school teacher, focusing on "at-risk" children.
Career
editBefore his election to the State Legislature, Alejo was the mayor of Watsonville, California. He was elected to District 2 of the Watsonville City Council with nearly 80% of the vote and became mayor in November 2009.[2][3] He had become Vice Mayor in March 2009.[4]
Prior to his public service, Alejo served as a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow where he worked as a legislative aide for Assemblymember Manny Diaz (D-San Jose).[5] He attended the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall), and Harvard University.[6][7]
Alejo was elected in June 2016 to represent District 1 on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.[8]
2014 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Luis Alejo (incumbent) | 25,441 | 58.9 | |
| Republican | Mark Starritt | 17,730 | 41.1 | |
| Total votes | 43,171 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Luis Alejo (incumbent) | 43,431 | 59.8 | |
| Republican | Mark Starritt | 29,187 | 40.2 | |
| Total votes | 72,618 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Luis Angel Alejo Lawyer Profile". www.martindale.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019.
- ^ "Emilio Martinez, Luis Alejo win Watsonville races, District 1 awaits absentee vote – San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ Jones, Donna. "Alejo, Bilicich named Watsonville mayor, vice mayor". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Alejo named to Watsonville's vice mayor – San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. 2009-03-21. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Notable Fellows – Center for California Studies at Sacramento State – Leadership begins here". Csus.edu. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Luis Alejo ...Background". Voteluisalejo.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "UC Davis School of Law – Blogs – Dean's Blog". Law.ucdavis.edu. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "District 1 - Supervisor Luis Alejo". County of Monterey. Retrieved 26 December 2018.