Cindy Montañez (born 1974) was a Democratic Assemblywoman from California's 39th Assembly District from 2002 until 2006. Montañez stepped down in 2006 to run for the California's 20th State Senate district. However, she lost that primary to Los Angeles City Councilman Alex Padilla. After leaving the Assembly, Montañez was appointed to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.[1] Cindy now works as a government affairs consultant for various clients.
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At 28, Montañez was the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Assembly.
Montañez was raised in the city of San Fernando, CA along with her five siblings by parents who were immigrants from Mexico. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles.
In February 2004, Montañez was named the chairperson of the Assembly Rules Committee. At 30 years old, she was the youngest person to ever chair the powerful committee as well as the first Latina and the first Democratic woman to chair the committee.
Her legislative work focused on issues that were vital to her district. Specific focuses included education, the environment, health care and consumer/worker protection. During her first term, ten of her bills made it out of the legislature and were signed into law. These bills included statutes to improve the management of urban landfills, a law to protect children from a sexually abusive parent and laws to insure the safety of workers. Montanez was the author of the landmark "Car Buyer's Bill of Rights".
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Preceded by Tony Cardenas |
California State Assemblymember, 39th District 2002 - 2006 |
Succeeded by Richard Alarcon |
Preceded by |
California State Assembly Rules Committee Chairperson February 9, 2004 - September 12, 2006 |
Succeeded by Hector De La Torre |