Roger Hernández

Roger Hernández
Member of the California State Assembly from the 48th district 57th district (2010–2012)
In office December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2016
Preceded by	Ed Hernandez
Succeeded by	Blanca Rubio
Mayor of West Covina, California
In office November 18, 2008 – December 1, 2009
Preceded by	Sherri Lane
Succeeded by	Shelley Sanderson
West Covina City Council
In office March 18, 2003 – December 6, 2010
Preceded by	Mike Touhey
Succeeded by	Karin Armbrust
Personal details
Born	(1975-07-29) July 29, 1975 El Monte, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Residence	West Covina, California
Alma mater	University of California, Riverside University of La Verne
Occupation	Part-time Instructor, Rio Hondo Community College

Roger Hernandez (born July 29, 1975) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly, representing the 48th district, encompassing parts of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County. He is a Democrat. Prior to being elected to the state assembly, he was the Mayor of West Covina, a member of the West Covina City Council, and Professor of Government at Rio Hondo and Citrus Community Colleges. Prior to his tenure on the City Council, Hernández was elected to the Rowland Unified School Board where he served from November 1999 through July 2003.

Early life and education

Hernandez received a 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 was raised in the City of El Monte and attended Nogales High School. As a youth counselor in the City of La Puente, Hernández worked with at-risk teenagers in an after school program.

Career

In 1998, at the age of 23, Hernández was elected to the Rowland Unified School Board and implemented community service graduation requirements as well as a parent empowerment program.

In 2003, Hernández was elected to the West Covina City Council.

Hernández was elected to the California State Assembly in 2010 representing the 48th District. As an Assemblymember for 6 years, Hernández passed 34 bills, and co-authored Senate Bill 3 which raised California's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

After being served with a restraining order for domestic violence during divorce proceedings, Hernandez was stripped of his committee assignments. A few months later, he took a medical leave of absence.^[1]

2014 California State Assembly

2016 run for Congress

In 2016, as he was termed out of his Assembly seat, Hernandez ran for the United States House of Representatives in the 32nd district, challenging Grace Napolitano. In August, after gaining a spot in the general election following a 2nd-place finish in the primaries, Hernandez withdrew from the race, citing fallout from his controversial divorce.^[2]

Controversies

In 2007, West Covina police responded to Hernandez's home after a neighbor reported hearing a loud argument and "someone getting slammed around with a male and female yelling," but no charges were filed. Hernandez claimed that the allegation was politically motivated.^[3] The former West Covina public information officer and city manager sued Hernandez alleging a hostile work environment in 2012, which was rejected by a jury.^[4]

Hernandez was arrested for drunk driving in Concord, California on March 27, 2012.^[5] A jury later found him not guilty.^[6] In January 2015, he was charged with money-laundering by the California Fair Political Practices Commission after a probable cause finding that Hernandez’s campaign committee had filed "an inaccurate semi-annual campaign statement with the Secretary of State, falsely reporting information regarding the true sources of contributions received.” ^[7] West Covina police granted an emergency protective order against Hernandez in 2012 when Hernandez allegedly entered into an altercation with a woman at a restaurant, although no charges were filed.^[8]

In April 2016, while in the process of divorcing his estranged wife Susan Rubio, Hernandez was served with a temporary restraining order and ordered to have no contact with Rubio. Rubio, who serves as a councilmember in the City of Baldwin Park, claimed that during their marriage Hernandez physically attacked and assaulted her, providing photos with scratches and bruises.^[9] In August of the same year, Hernandez took a leave of absence but was criticized for continuing to collect per diem reimbursements while on leave.^[10]

References