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Felipe Fuentes

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Felipe Fuentes
Fuentes in 2013
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 7th district
In office
July 1, 2013 – September 11, 2016
Preceded byRichard Alarcon
Succeeded byMonica Rodriguez
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 39th district
In office
May 25, 2007 – November 30, 2012
Preceded byRichard Alarcon
Succeeded byRaul Bocanegra
Personal details
Born
Felipe J. Fuentes III

(1971-05-25) May 25, 1971 (age 53)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLena Wu Fuentes
Children1
ResidenceSylmar, California
Alma materPepperdine University
University of California, Los Angeles
Profession
  • Lobbyist
  • politician
  • businessman

Felipe J. Fuentes III (born May 25, 1971) is an American lobbyist, former politician, and businessman who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 7th district from 2013 until his resignation in 2016. Prior to serving on the Los Angeles City Council, Felipe Fuentes was a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 39th district from 2007 until 2010.

Starting his political career as a staffer for then-Councilmember Alex Padilla, Fuentes initially attempted a run for Padilla's city council seat in 2007. However, he withdrew in favor of Richard Alarcon, who won the seat. That same year, Fuentes was elected to Alarcon's vacated seat in the State Assembly. After being termed out of the Assembly, he successfully ran for City Council in 2013. Despite his win, Fuentes served only a partial term, resigning in 2016 to become a lobbyist.

Early life and education

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Fuentes was born on May 25, 1971[1] in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The grandson of Mexican immigrants, he attended San Fernando High School, from which he graduated. He later earned a degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School at Pepperdine University.[2]

Early politics and State Assembly

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Fuentes being sworn in by Fabian Núñez, 2007.

He started becoming involved in politics in 1999, working as an aide to Los Angeles City Council member Alex Padilla and serving as the liaison for Mayor of Los Angeles James Hahn.[3] After Padilla announced his resignation to be in the California State Assembly, Fuentes announced that he would be running for his seat.[4] By December 2006, however, Fuentes announced that he would be quitting the race after Richard Alarcon, who had previously represented the district from 1993 to 1999, launched his campaign. However, because of Alarcon's win in the special election, a vacancy was created, and Fuentes quickly emerged as the leading candidate to fill the position.[5] In the special election, he was supported by Alarcon and won the seat.[6][7]

During his first term, Fuentes introduced a significant number of bills advocated by lobbyists, in which The Mercury News described it as "one of the highest totals" for any legislator in a session.[8] In 2011, while serving in the State Assembly, he was dubbed the "Worst Legislator in California" by LA Weekly, describing him as a poor legislator after an investigative report revealed that nearly half of the bills he introduced during his first term were ghostwritten by lobbyists or special interest groups.[9] After he termed out, Fuentes was succeeded by Raul Bocanegra, who later resigned during his second term in 2017 following sexual harassment allegations that stemmed from his time as a staffer for Fuentes.[10] Although he had termed out, he managed to stay on the payroll by working for Bocanegra until he was sworn in as a councilmember seven months later.[11]

Los Angeles City Council

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Fuentes with Eric Garcetti, Barbara Romero, and Danny Trejo at CicLAvia 2016.

In 2013, Alarcon had served a single term on the Los Angeles City Council, which made him term-limited. Felipe Fuentes then ran for the City Council seat again and won.[12] During his time in office, Fuentes fought with neighborhood councils on development projects and proposed routes for a high-speed rail plan. He also introduced a measure aimed at making the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power more efficient and played a role in vetting a city plan to increase the minimum wage over the next five years.[13][14]

In January 2016, he announced that he would not run for a second term nor for any other office.[3] On August 14, 2016, Fuentes announced that he would be resigning from his council seat the following month to become a lobbyist for the Apex Group representing the Associated General Contractors of California.[15][16] He officially resigned on September 11, 2016, and his seat was temporarily filled by Council President Herb Wesson of the 10th district.[17] In the next election, he was succeeded by Monica Rodriguez, who ran against Alarcon in 2007 and considered running in 2013 against Fuentes.[18]

Personal life

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Fuentes is married to Lena Wu, and they have one daughter named Iliana Flor Fuentes.[19] They reside in Sylmar, Los Angeles.

Electoral history

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Electoral history of Felipe Fuentes
Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Ref.
Total % P. Total % P.
2007 California State Assembly 39th Democratic 5,819 50.82% 1st Runoff cancelled Won Hold [20]
2008 Democratic 6,527 74.17% 1st 59,495 73.73% 1st Won Hold [21]
2010 Democratic 7,828 100.00% 1st 43,267 78.42% 1st Won Hold [22]
2013 Los Angeles City Council 7th Nonpartisan 9,912 51.38% 1st Runoff cancelled Won N/A [23]

References

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  1. ^ Oreskes, Benjamin; Grad, Shelby (May 22, 2017). "Newsletter: Essential California: Can the high desert become the Silicon Valley of pot?". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "The Honorable Felipe Fuentes California State Assembly, 39th District" (PDF). Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
  3. ^ a b Zahniser, David (January 8, 2016). "L.A. Councilman Felipe Fuentes says he won't run for reelection". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ "The chosen ones". Los Angeles Times. March 27, 2007.
  5. ^ Hymon, Steve (March 7, 2007). "At least six incumbents win reelection to L.A. City Council". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Orlov, Rick (May 17, 2007). "Fuentes: Hard work got me elected". Los Angeles Daily News.
  7. ^ Abram, Susan (May 16, 2007). "Assembly's 39th goes to Fuentes". Los Angeles Daily News.
  8. ^ "Part 2: Term limits shift balance of power to special interests". The Mercury News. August 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "New LA City Councilman Once Dubbed 'Worst Legislator In California'". CBS News. March 6, 2013.
  10. ^ Mason, Melanie; Smith, Dakota (November 20, 2017). "As sexual harassment in politics investigations widen, California Assemblyman accused by six new women". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Healey, Jon (March 22, 2013). "Termed-out Fuentes stays on Assembly payroll while running for council". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ Zahniser, David (March 6, 2013). "Sacramento veterans leading in council races". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ^ Plummer, Mary (August 15, 2016). "Future uncertain for District 7 as city councilman says he'll exit in September". LAist.
  14. ^ Zahniser, Daivd (August 14, 2016). "L.A. Councilman Felipe Fuentes plans to step down early to become a lobbyist". Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ "With Los Angeles City Councilman Felipe Fuentes leaving, who'll run the district?". Los Angeles Daily News. August 28, 2017.
  16. ^ Chou, Elizabeth Hsing-Huei (August 18, 2016). "Fuentes Explains Early Resignation from LA City Council". San Fernando Valley Sun.
  17. ^ Zahniser, David (September 15, 2016). "L.A. Council President Herb Wesson names himself temporary overseer of Valley district". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ Chou, Elizabeth (August 28, 2017). "ELECTION 2017: Monica Rodriguez stayed in northeast LA, now she wants to lead it". Los Angeles Daily News.
  19. ^ Tucker, Jan (July 2, 2023). "Los Angeles Diversity Capital of the World". LA Progressive.
  20. ^ "Special Election Results State Assembly, 39th District Special Primary Election, May 15, 2007: Official Canvass" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. March 15, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
  21. ^ "Statement of Vote November 4, 2008, General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of California.
  22. ^ "Statement of Vote November 2, 2010, General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. January 6, 2011.
  23. ^ "Certified Results 2013 Primary Nominating Election" (PDF). Los Angeles City Clerk. March 26, 2013.
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Preceded by Los Angeles City Councilmember,
7th district
July 1, 2013 – September 11, 2016 		Succeeded by
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