Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 50; Democratic Party

Ricardo grew up in the 50th Assembly District until he went to college at San Diego State University, where he became the first in his family to graduate with a college degree.

He comes from a working class, immigrant family. His mother, Dolores is a seamstress and his father, Venustiano is a factory worker. Ricardo understands how critical it is for people to have jobs that provide a living wage and basic benefits like healthcare. And he's passionate about making certain that all kids in the 50th Assembly District have a chance for a quality education like he was fortunate enough to have received.

As the former Chief of Staff to the late Majority Leader Marco Antonio Firebaugh in the 50th Assembly District, Ricardo spearheaded several bills that became law, including the landmark AB 540, making college education more affordable for immigrant students.

Through his work with the Assembly over the years Ricardo has helped:

• Get funds allocated for a record number of schools and parks throughout the district such as Marco Firebaugh and South East High Schools and South Gate, Rosewood and the John Anson Ford parks
• Provide down payment assistance loans to first time low and moderate income home buyers
• Ensure that 50% of funds for air quality improvement programs benefit low income areas and communities of color who are severely impacted by air pollution
• Launch programs to provide tax relief, citizenship information, drug abuse and awareness prevention, tutoring and access to higher education, and health care services

Always a political activist and a strong believer in change, Ricardo attended the 2004 Democratic Convention where he heard then Senator Obama, give his speech. Four years later, Ricardo put in hundreds of hours talking with voters, raising money and working in Nevada and California to get Barack Obama elected President.

Ricardo currently serves as Communications Director for Assembly member Kevin de Léon, Chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE). PIQE encourages and supports low-income, ethnically diverse parents of elementary, middle and high school children to take a proactive role in their children's education.

Ricardo is running to become the 50th District's representative in the State Assembly to continue his lifelong mission to improve the quality of life for California's working families.

He attended San Diego State University where he earned Bachelor of Art Degrees in Journalism and Spanish and a minor in Chicano Studies, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college. He recently received his Master's Degree in Leadership from the University of Southern California