Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 20

Since his election to the Newark City Council in November 2001, Alberto Torrico has fulfilled his campaign promise to bring a "new voice" to the city. Alberto has injected a "new" vision and a renewed spirit of dialogue and debate at City Hall. Alberto was recently elected by his colleagues on the City Council as the new Vice-Mayor of Newark.

Alberto recognizes the connection between fiscal health and social justice. He opposed the recent state budget that mortgages our future by borrowing because it could lead to devastating cuts in education and other vital programs. In contrast, Newark not only has a balanced budget, but ended this past fiscal year with a $1.5 million surplus. Even in these tough economic times, Alberto has worked to keep the city budget balanced while still fighting for his top priorities. He has championed the creation of affordable housing and the development of regional solutions to the area's traffic problems. Alberto is proudest of his work to expand city-sponsored educational programs that give teens a chance to "drop-in," instead of dropping out.

The son of immigrants who worked hard to give their children opportunities they never had, Alberto has chosen public service as the best way to honor his parents' example. He also feels this is the best way in which he can give back to the people of the Tri-City community in which he was raised.

After graduating from Irvington High School in Fremont, Alberto attended Santa Clara University and went on to receive a law degree from Hastings Law School in San Francisco. After law school, Alberto worked as an attorney for four years, helping people throughout the state improve their lives on the job and in the community.

Alberto began his career as a policy aide for then-Supervisor Ron Gonzales, focusing on criminal justice and transportation issues. He has worked on efforts to extend BART from Fremont to San Jose since 1992. In 2000, he combined his transportation and legal experience to work as an Assistant General Counsel with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency. Recognizing that people need to spend less time on the road and more time with their families, Alberto worked with businesses, labor groups and local cities to address pressing regional traffic problems.

Alberto also serves on a number of community boards, including Second Chance and Kindango, and the advisory boards of Justice for New Americans and the Alameda County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Alberto is also the Chair of the 20th Assembly District Democratic Committee and serves on the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee.

Over the past year, Alberto has established an independent law practice in Fremont. Alberto currently lives in Newark with his wife, Raquel and their three-year old son, Mateo.