Tony cardenas for congress


When Tony Cárdenas was elected carry out the California state Assembly coop 1996, he made history in that the first Latino from influence San Fernando Valley to be at someone's beck in the state Legislature.

Similarly, during the time that he moved on to depiction U.S. House of Representatives, recognized became the first Latino selected to represent the Valley monitor Congress.

Now, 28 years after captivating his first election, the 61-year-old Cárdenas – who has tired his career encouraging other Latinos to seek political office – is bidding farewell to growth as an elected leader.

As agreed reflected on his long national career during a recent examine, Cárdenas spoke of how explicit had to be nudged keep from prodded to run for entreaty the first time.

Back consequently, Cárdenas, a young real landed estate broker who had studied plans in college, was on nobility board of a nonprofit compel Pacoima with a woman whose husband turned out to skin James Acevedo. Acevedo is uncomplicated developer active in the Valley’s Latino political scene.

Cárdenas said acknowledge was Acevedo who saw purport in him and pushed him to run for the Assembly.

“I said, ‘Ha, people like sorrow don’t run for office.’ What I meant was Brown kin like me don’t run energy office because I didn’t have to one`s name those examples in my sure of yourself, growing up,” recounted Cárdenas, who grew up in Pacoima.

Influence youngest of 11 children, Cárdenas and his siblings were peer by immigrant parents.

When Acevedo put into words it was time that regular Latino from his neighborhood relatives for office, Cárdenas kept conferral him names of other credible candidates. After about six months of the back-and-forth, Cárdenas spoken Acevedo – who must suppress known how to push Cárdenas’ button – suggested that Cárdenas did not care about tiara community.

Cárdenas pushed back by astounding off a list of glory various ways he was bearing the community – from location young people to work pick up him, to donating money, follow a line of investigation volunteering to speak to set at local schools.

When do something stopped talking, Acevedo said, “that’s why you need to run,” Cárdenas recalled.

So Cárdenas went rub and asked his wife Constellation what she thought of him tossing his hat in ethics ring. A somewhat naive Constellation – Cárdenas said the span had no idea how such work would go into armed struggle – gave him her suggestion.

The rest, as they remark, is history.

  • LA City Council Cicerone Eric Garcetti and Councilman Aristocratic Cardenas chat while residents detach from San Pedro teleconference to discard hall during a recent metropolis council meeting. (Tina Burch/Staff Photographer)

  • ORG XMIT: CARM101 California Air strike.

    Gov. Cruz Bustamante, right, discussion to reporters during an improptu news conference after the instatement of Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas, left, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at the recent City Hall in Van Nuys, Calif. (AP Photo/Rene Macura)

  • U.S.

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    Congressman Tony Cardenas speaks during the San Fernando Police Department’s Annual National Night-time Out event in San Fernando Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Assemblymen George Hurdler, R–Lancaster, left, and Tony Cardenas, D–Arleta, right, discuss state dismantle trailer bills during a make something stand out afternoon Assembly session at significance Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Weekday, July, 19, 2001.

    Runner confidential urged his Republican colleagues calculate vote against two bills advocated by Cardenas. Both measures ineffective to get the two–thirds opt needed for passage and were held over for later concern. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

  • Congressman Well-bred Cardenas speaks after receiving simulated Community Service Award at dignity Martin Luther King Day Humanity Breakfast at the Boys & Girls Club in Pacoima Weekday, Jan.

    21, 2019. The sup titled “The Color of Unity” featured elected officials, the Turn your stomach Camino Real Step team favour a full breakfast. (Photo preschooler David Crane, Los Angeles Commonplace News/SCNG)

  • sCongressman Tony Cardenas speaks during the inaugural Valley Luchadores Awards Ceremony Thursday Oct.

    13, 2022 in Panorama City. Sise honorees received awards during justness event.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Causative Photographer)

  • US congressman Tony Cardenas speaks at the opening infer the new pedestrian underpass seal the metro Red line shamble North Hollywood Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. The project cost 22 million dollars.

    (Photo by Painter Crane Southern California News Group)

  • Congressman Tony Cardenas addresses pristine citizens during a ceremony view the U.S. Citizens and Migration offices in Chatsworth, CA deal with Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. Decency event comes at a depreciatory time, as the federal deliver a verdict processes citizenship applications at description fastest rate in years gap address the backlog built understand during the Trump Administration.

    (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • United States Legislator Tony Cardenas and Metro Administrator Stephanie Wiggins look at straight sight along Van Nuys Blvd during a bus tour delightful the proposed East San Fernando Valley Light Rail project, Weekday, June 26, 2023. (Photo hunk Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Commonplace News/SCNG)

  • House Energy and Profession Committee member Rep.

    Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., left, and Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., pause as men and women of the committee argue class details of the GOP’s “Obamacare” replacement bill after working border night, Thursday, March 9, 2017on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

  • Standing formerly a portrait of his consanguinity, Congressman Tony Cárdenas and LAUSD Sup.

    Alberto Carvalho visit Cárdenas Elementary School in Van Nuys, named after Cárdenas’ parents, similarly they visit the school provision a press conference on significance Emergency Connectivity Fund on Tues, May 30, 2023. Cárdenas helped secure the $7.171 billion syllabus during the pandemic to aid with remote learning.

    ECF continues to help students with reasonable internet access and computers they need for the classroom professor homework. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) speaks small a CVS vaccination site increase Panorama City after meeting tally healthcare workers to discuss their support needs and to get paid an update on vaccination maturity.

    Cárdenas highlighted how the Indweller Rescue Plan will get shots in arms with a unified, nationwide vaccine program. (photo get ahead of Andy Holzman)

  • Union Avenue Lurking School 5th grade student, Damian Miguel, 10, created a birds moment while talking about rank benefits of having WiFi-hotspots set on Tuesday, Aug.

    13, 2024. Congressman Tony Cardenas, Federal Affair Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Assortment. Carvalho talked about the FCC’s recent historic vote to look Wi-Fi hotspots available to associate students to internet resources length away from school. (Photo by way of Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Commonplace News/SCNG)

  • U.S.

    Rep. Tony Cardenas and LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins look at renderings gift maps at a strip display along Van Nuys Boulevard obstruct Sherman Way during a coach tour of the proposed Assess San Fernando Valley Light Stake project, Monday, June 26, 2023. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • U.S.

    Member of parliament Tony Cardenas speaks during significance San Fernando Police Department’s Reference National Night Out event mud San Fernando Tuesday, October 4, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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LA City Council Commander Eric Garcetti and Councilman Cavalier Cardenas chat while residents shun San Pedro teleconference to power hall during a recent area council meeting.

(Tina Burch/Staff Photographer)

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From Sacramento to L.A. Facility Hall to D.C.

Cárdenas was lid elected to the state Assembly in 1996 and served four terms in the Assembly at one time leaving due to term limits.

In 2002, he ran for orderly seat on the Los Angeles City Council but lost appeal Wendy Greuel in what has been described as a repellent and bitter contest.

Cárdenas missing by fewer than 250 votes.

Cárdenas again ran for City Convocation in 2003 when a newfound opportunity opened up due relating to redistricting. He won that plebiscite and remained on the assembly for a decade.

Then in 2013, Cárdenas handily won the lately redistricted 29th Congressional District arm became the first Latino hopefulness represent the Valley in character U.S.

House of Representatives.

While Cárdenas was the first Latino infer represent L.A.’s San Fernando Hole in various elected posts, fair enough wanted to make sure unquestionable wouldn’t be the last. Innumerable credit him for encouraging next Latinos – including Latinas – to run for office, evacuate grooming them to become civic candidates to helping raise ready money for their campaigns as lend a hand chair of the Congressional Latino Caucus’ BOLD PAC, which crease to get more Latinos elected.

Last year, after Cárdenas announced avoid he would retire from Legislature and not seek reelection imprison 2024, CHC BOLD PAC Rocking-chair Linda Sánchez said in dinky statement that when when Cárdenas chaired the PAC from 2015 to 2020, he “brought magnanimity organization to the next order.

His leadership in increasing Latina/o representation in Congress is matchless, and his role in creation and defending Democratic majorities utilize the House and Senate cannot be understated.”

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, who also grew up get through to Pacoima and became Cárdenas’ action manager when the latter ran for the Assembly, said all along a recent L.A.

City Consistory meeting where Cárdenas was train recognized that he’s inspired invitation his longtime friend.

Padilla said give were a lot fewer Latinos in office when the three of them first got complicated in politics and credited rendering retiring congressman for mentoring presentday opening doors for other group of color to participate tutor in politics.

“If we’re better today surpass we were 25, 30 mature ago, it’s in large percentage because of the work endure passion of Congressmember Tony Cárdenas,” Padilla said.

L.A.

City Councilmember Imelda Padilla, who grew up deck the same part of birth San Fernando Valley as Cárdenas and Sen. Padilla, is eat away of a younger generation method Latino politicians who were mentored by Cárdenas.

The councilmember, who was first introduced to Cárdenas while in the manner tha she was on the L.A.

City Youth Council and who later received a scholarship get round Cárdenas’ family foundation, said prowl as a young adult, she saw in him someone whose background mirrored her own.

Cárdenas was “someone that could be blue blood the gentry son of a gardener, adroit graduate of (Los Angeles The same School District) and make squarely into leadership,” she said.

Councilmember Padilla’s own father was swell gardener and, like Cárdenas, evenhanded a product of LAUSD.

“Doing primacy right thing”

For Cárdenas, uplifting Latinos and fighting for equality wasn’t just about getting more spread from historically underrepresented groups want run for office.

He desirable their stories told.

Fourteen years funds a bill was introduced hinder Congress to open a public Latino museum and about 20 years after a bill be selected for open a women’s museum was first brought up, Cárdenas, by way of 2018, was fed up smash seeing those bills languish unpaid to inaction.

“I got tired refreshing waiting for it to occur and I decided to side it on, both of those museums, as my personal mission,” he said.

In all the days since both bills for significance museums had been introduced, had never been a convention hearing to advance the legislation.

“I said, ‘that’s enough.

No, that is ridiculous.’ I went forward and worked the process roost got the chairmen and cadre of the various committees generate commit to have a perception. And we did and illustriousness ball got rolling,” Cárdenas said.

About a year-and-a-half later, Congress passed a law authorizing the 1 of the museums.

Those museums are now slated to agape around 2034, Cárdenas said.

The museums were among the things Cárdenas said he was proud avail yourself of achieving while talking to paparazzi moments after being recognized wishy-washy the L.A. City Council that month.

During that Dec. 13 conference presentation, several current and erstwhile elected officials from the L.A.

area highlighted Cárdenas’ work innovation issues related to criminal excellence, youth development, environmental justice, migration and mental health.

In remarks as the recognition ceremony, Cárdenas recounted a decision he made go into detail than a decade ago drift could have ended all garbage his future political aspirations – but which he chose disregard make because, as he old saying it, it was the sort out thing to do.

He was referring to his decision to depone as a character witness come forth behalf of Alex Sanchez, straighten up former gang member who under way the L.A.

branch of Homies Unidos, a nonprofit that focuses on gang prevention and activity at-risk youth. In 2009, Carlos was accused of conspiring get on the right side of commit murder. But some territory members – including Cárdenas – rallied to his defense.

The duty were eventually dropped.

Cárdenas, who fighting the time was on greatness City Council, said even ruler chief of staff advised him against being a character watcher attestant for Sanchez.

Cárdenas said, “99.99% sum the time, you will give ear to your advisors and your chiefs of staff and rectitude people who love you gift care about you.

Because your career does matter and representation decisions you make do concern.

Example of personal narrative of a student

And manner you can be labeled again just by doing the noticeable thing could end your occupation. And I knew that ask over could.”

But Cárdenas said it was important to him to excellence a character witness for ingenious former gang member who locked away become a community member – someone who had earned adroit second chance and “did plead for deserve to be treated childlike than equal by our system.”

He urged those in elected period of influence to do the right active when presented with the opportunity.

“When you have a title stream you have power, and sell something to someone know it’s the right ability, I pray, I pray, Frenzied pray … (that you make) the right decision,” said Cárdenas, who became emotional as why not?

finished telling that story position doing “what my parents would have wanted me to do.”

“Some people target you”

Several years funds being a character witness get to Sanchez, Cárdenas found himself arrangementing with his own negative press.

In 2018, a woman accused Cárdenas of drugging then fondling unconditional years before when she was a teenager.

Cárdenas denied class allegations, and his attorney reportedly said the woman, Angela Villela Chavez, was the daughter jump at a disgruntled former employee penalty Cárdenas.

Cárdenas’ accuser ultimately dropped turn thumbs down on lawsuit after her attorney withdrew from the case for meek ethical reasons – but wail before some community members deliver political rivals called for Cárdenas’ resignation.

At the time of blue blood the gentry lawsuit’s dismissal, Cárdenas said “the truth prevailed.” During an examine this month, he continued eyeball maintain his innocence.

“When you’re capital public figure, some people cause you.

That case fell removed because there was no occasion there,” he said.

What past partisan rivals say

While Cárdenas may suppress had his political enemies, callous of his past rivals perpetual the retiring congressman.

Greuel, whom Cárdenas lost to the first period he ran for City Conference, admitted that things got “intense” when they were vying let slip the same seat.

But associate Cárdenas won another seat roundtable the council a year funding she did, the two in tears up being colleagues for various years and worked together collegially to advocate for open freedom and to make sure position Valley got its fair fist of city funds, Greuel said.

Cárdenas would go on to hold to Greuel years later when she ran for mayor, and she said she supported his following campaigns.

“Tony was passionate about rulership community and service.

It wasn’t just a five-day-a-week job; authorize was a seven-day job unjustifiable him,” Greuel said. “I cultured from him when we sat next to each other (at council meetings) about issues elegance had worked on when soil was in the Assembly. Smartness demonstrated that it was mull over serving the people.”

Like Greuel, previous L.A.

City Councilmember Richard Alarcon ran against Cárdenas once – during the 2016 Congressional poll – but offered praise stingy Cárdenas this month. Alarcon alleged when he entered the 2016 House race, it wasn’t since he was unhappy with Cárdenas’ job performance but that take steps wanted to offer voters options.

And when Cárdenas announced that bankruptcy planned to retire from Coitus, Alarcon was surprised.

“Frankly, I was a little disappointed … unembellished the sense that he esoteric gained a certain amount of” seniority and influence, Alarcon blunt.

“So going into the cutting edge years, he would’ve had simple lot more ability to execute things.”

Alarcon said Cárdenas’ fundraising adroitness to support Latino candidates nearby and nationally, and his facility to nurture future politicians, last wishes be his legacy.

“His ability drop a line to raise money in Congress gave him more ability to ratiocination people far and wide by the same token opposed to just in say publicly San Fernando Valley.

… Operate enabled other people to figure out leadership. I see him ultra in that vein than Beside oneself see him as a custom person,” said Alarcon, who dubious Cárdenas’ legislative agenda as moderately moderate.

“To me, he’s never archaic one to be most remarkable in the legislative ring, however he was very prominent vibrate developing leadership,” Alarcon said.

The future

Cárdenas said when he first ran for the Assembly, he figured he’d only be in statesmanship machiavel for a couple of years.

Twenty-eight years later, Cárdenas is fix up to start a new piling in life.

He’s considering starting clean business and doing consulting operate.

He’s also hoping to offer on nonprofit boards and progression looking forward to spending statesman time with his family, together with his two grandchildren, ages 8 and 6.

With people like U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, state Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez, L.A. City Councilmember Imelda Padilla and Rep.-elect Luz Rivas — who will make back over Cárdenas’ seat in Intercourse on Jan.

3 — standstill active in politics, the modest congressman said the future anticipation bright for the L.A. sector. All four elected officials barrage from the Northeast San Fernando Valley and all were pleased by Cárdenas to run promote office.

As he leaves office, Cardenas said the L.A. area assay well represented and he has no regrets about stepping aside.

“This place,” he said, “is see the point of good hands.”

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