Lori Saldana - California Representative

Lori Saldaña was re-elected in 2006 to a second term in the California Legislature, representing the state's 76th Assembly District. Her district consists of the central and northern portion of San Diego, including the communities of Clairemont, Bay Park, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Tierra Santa, Serra Mesa, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, South Park, Linda Vista, Mission Valley, City Heights, Old Town, Normal Heights, Mission Hills and Downtown San Diego. Since elected to the California State Legislature in November of 2004, Assemblymember Saldaña was appointed to Leadership as the Assistant Majority Whip, a position she continues to hold.  In 2006, she was appointed as Chair of the Housing and Community

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Lori Saldaña was re-elected in 2006 to a second term in the California Legislature, representing the state's 76th Assembly District. Her district consists of the central and northern portion of San Diego, including the communities of Clairemont, Bay Park, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Tierra Santa, Serra Mesa, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, South Park, Linda Vista, Mission Valley, City Heights, Old Town, Normal Heights, Mission Hills and Downtown San Diego. Since elected to the California State Legislature in November of 2004, Assemblymember Saldaña was appointed to Leadership as the Assistant Majority Whip, a position she continues to hold.  In 2006, she was appointed as Chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee and tasked with dispensing voter approved bonds for the state of California in excess of 2.85 billion dollars. Assemblymember Saldaña’s additional assignments include Elections and Redistricting, Local Government, Natural Resources and Veteran’s Affairs Committees. These committee assignments reflect her life long passions for protecting the environment, improving water quality and providing fair affordable housing in California. Throughout her life, she has been active in public causes at the local, state, national and international level, including service as both a Mayoral and Presidential appointee. Among these:                      President Clinton's appointee to the Border Environment Cooperation Commission's Advisory Council (1999) to review, plan and fund water quality improvement projects in San Diego and Tijuana. Ms. Saldaña served as United States Co-Chair of Advisory Council and managed over $60 million in investments in local potable water, reclamation and sewage treatment projects, and cleaner water at the US-Mexico border. As a result of this work, she received an environmental policy research fellowship at the Center for US-Mexico study at UCSD.                              Chair, Sierra Club, San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter, 1995-1997, Legal Committee Chair and Political Committee Chair. Recipient of the Sierra Club's "Conservation Activist of the Year" Award (1995), and Sierra Club's Special Achievement Award for Conservation Activities (1999).                              Chairwoman, City of San Diego Wetlands Advisory Board for the City of San Diego (1992-94).                              San Diego Earth Day founding Board of Directors member. Organized the first "Earth Fair" event in Balboa Park (1989-90).                  Believing in the importance of a skilled and educated workforce to San Diego’s economy, Ms. Saldaña has devoted much of her 20-year career as an educator in San Diego to workforce development and programs providing educational, vocational and public service opportunities for at-risk youth. Additionally, she has spent a majority of her career in education as a professor of Business Information Technology throughout the San Diego Community College District.         Ms. Saldaña developed and managed several educational and technical job skills programs, including a $1.5 million Technology Workforce Development grant for the San Diego Community College district. For this project, she oversaw the design of several new computer labs and the development of new multimedia and technology training programs aimed at students at risk of dropping out of school.         In 2002, Ms. Saldaña was named Associate Dean, Director of Service Learning Program, at San Diego Mesa College. This successful program provides students with experience working in local volunteer organizations while earning college credit.         As a lover of the outdoors, Ms. Saldaña has been involved in various activities that allow her to enjoy San Diego's unique weather and topography. Among her interests are sailing, hiking, golfing, kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling. She is also an enthusiastic camper and an author of a how-to book on backpacking.

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