Anthony J. Portantino (D-CA-29)

Anthony J. Portantino California District 29

Anthony J. Portantino, Biography from Assembly.ca.gov

Biography of Assembly Member Anthony J. Portantino

Anthony Portantino has represented the 44th Assembly district since his election to the Assembly in November, 2006. The 44th district covers the cities of Altadena, Duarte, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena and Temple City.  It also includes portions of Arcadia, Monrovia, Mayflower Village, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock.

In his freshman term, Assemblymember Portantino was honored with an appointment as chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education. As chair, Portantino led efforts to improve access to financial aid for community college students and broaden the reach of the state’s Cal-Grant program.

Assemblymember Portantino was instrumental in establishing the California Umbilical Cord program and successfully authored groundbreaking legislation to protect the legacy of legendary vocal groups such as the Drifters and Coasters.

Throughout his two terms in the Assembly, Portantino has charted an independent course and fought to put partisanship aside. Six different times he has introduced legislation to freeze the salaries of California’s highest paid workers; he has twice introduced a measure to create an Inspector General to root out waste and fraud in state government; and he has pushed for “Pay As You Go” legislation that would require a funding source for any new bills.

In 2010, he was named to head the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation.  In addition,  he also serves on Higher Education, Government Organization, Human Services and Transportation Committees.  He is chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Preservation of California’s Entertainment Industry and a member of the Foster Care Select Committee.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Portantino spent many years working in the entertainment industry in film and television production.  He served nearly eight years on the La Cañada Flintridge city council – two terms as mayor.  He is a past member of the Pasadena City College Bond Oversight Committee and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Assemblymember Portantino was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. Following his father’s untimely death, he was raised by his mother, Barbara, whom he says has had the greatest influence on his life. Her tremendous spirit and warm Italian heart inspired him, and her determined struggle to send her kids to college changed the course of his life.

Assemblymember Portantino attended public schools and graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania where he met his future wife, Ellen, a business executive. They have two daughters, Sofia, who attends a public university in California, and Bella Rose, who attends a public elementary school.

Biography from Portantino for Assembly

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino was elected to serve the 44th Assembly District in November, 2006. The district encompasses Altadena, Duarte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena and Temple City. It also includes portions of Arcadia, Monrovia, Mayflower Village and the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods of Glassell Park, Hermon, Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock.

The youngest of four children, Assemblymember Portantino was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. Following his father’s untimely death, he was raised by his mother, Barbara, whom he says has had the greatest influence on his life. Her tremendous spirit and warm Italian heart inspired him, and her determined struggle to send her kids to college changed the course of his life.

Assemblymember Portantino came to California to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and spent many years working in film and Television production. He worked as an Art Director for the NBC show Unsolved Mysteries, Line Produced El Regalo de Paquito for Telemundo and worked on many other independent and industrial film productions.

Assemblymember Portantino served nearly eight years on the La Canada Flintridge City Council and two terms as its Mayor. He has served as President of the League of California Cities Mayor’s and Councilmember’s Department and the Executive Board of the California Contract Cities Association. He is also a past member of the Pasadena City College Bond Oversight Committee. While serving as Vice Chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Advisory Committee, Assemblymember Portantino was very active in preserving open space in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Assemblymember Portantino attended public schools and graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was at Albright w[h]ere he met [h]is future wife, Ellen. Ellen, a successful businessperson, and Anthony have two daughters, Sofia and Bella Rose. Both girls attend public school and are active in Girl Scouts.

Anthony currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Higher Education and is a member of the Transportation, Government Organization and Public Safety Standing Committees. He is also a member of the Assembly Select Committees on the Preservation of the California’s Entertainment Industry, Foster Care, and Community Colleges.

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