Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 57

In 2003, Mayor Roger Hernández was sworn in as a member of the West Covina City Council. At age 27, he was the youngest person in the history of the City do so. During his tenure, Hernández has consistently advocated residents' rights while encouraging smart growth, promoted public safety reforms while maintaining a 100 percent voting record for our police and fire personnel, and spearheaded creative policies that help keep our children healthy and our environment safe.

As a Councilmember, Hernández pushed a City-run ambulance service that has cut response time in half while generating revenue for the City, created a bicycle helmet giveaway program, supported the construction of the award-winning Cameron Park Gymnasium and Community Center and fought side-by-side with residents to oppose the sale of City-owned parks and unfit developments from encroaching on the character of the City's diverse neighborhoods.

Hernández also led an effort by the City to become more environmentally conscious by proposing a policy that mandates the city purchase hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles when replacing vehicles in the city's fleet. That policy also reaches to the City's purchasing of light bulbs and recycled paper.

Hernández continues to actively seek and encourage responsible business development that has been a major benefit to the City and its coffers, which pay for the public safety and educational programs he supports. Such developments include "The Heights" project on Azusa Avenue that includes Target, Home Depot, Ruby Tuesdays, and other businesses. He also supported the development at the commercial center at the intersection of Citrus and Workman, and "The Curve" at Eastland Mall, which includes restaurants such as Johnny Carino's, Pick Up Stix, Islands and Chipotle.

Hernández has also taken on multiple leadership roles, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District and the City's representative to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, the West Covina Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles County Selection Committee. He is also a member of the West Covina Lion's Club service organization.

As a son of immigrant parents in a working-class household, Hernández was the first in his family to continue his education after high school, earning a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California-Riverside, a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne, and a Master's in Governance Certificate from the California School Boards Association (CSBA).

Hernández's role as a representative of the community began in 1999 when he was elected to the Rowland Unified School District Board of Education at the age of 24. He helped institute a variety of programs still in practice today, including a mandatory community-service requirement for all graduating students and a parent-empowerment program that bridged the gap between school and home while successfully increasing academic achievement and college readiness. He also fought to fund an increase in counselors at school sites and promoted policies that gave teachers more site-based decision making abilities.

During that time, Hernández was elected to the Board of Directors for the California Latino School Board Members Association and the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association, while also working as a Congressional field representative.

Hernández currently works as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Rio Hondo College and was recently tapped to join the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 2009 California Health Leadership Program, which provides officials extensive training in the prevention of chronic disease, the promotion of effective health policy reform and health-care minded investments in the community.

Hernández has always maintained an open-door policy and looks forward to receiving inquiries from constituents.