Candidate for
Attorney General; Democratic Party

About Alberto Torrico

Since his election to the Assembly in 2004, the Democratic Assemblyman has earned a reputation for hard work, intelligence and passion, gaining the respect of his colleagues for his commitment to improving the quality of life for all Californians. These qualities catapulted him into a top leadership position as the Assembly Majority Leader.

In the State Assembly, Torrico has held a number of leadership posts, including Majority Leader, chair of the Governmental Organization Committee, Director of Majority Affairs, and chair of the Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security (PERSS). Torrico has been recognized by a variety of organizations for his work:

• California State Firefighters Association - Legislator of the Year
• Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) - Legislator of the Year
• American Electronics Association (AEA) - Legislator of the Year
• California Association of Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores (CAIGCS) - Chairman's Award
• California Association of Bilingual Educators Legislative Award
• Asian Pacific Islanders Community Action Network - Legislator of the Year
• Sprinkler Fitters Association of California - Legislator of the Year
• California Partnership to End Domestic Violence - Special Appreciation
• East Bay Economic Development Alliance - Certificate of Appreciation
• California Natural Gas Producers Association - Sentinel Award
• SIREN - Champion of Immigrants Rights Award
• California Civil Rights Alliance - Distinguished Public Service Awards
• California Association of Human Relations Organizations - Courage Award
• Equality California - Building a State of Equality Award

An incident in law school inspired him to focus on public service and civil rights. As a volunteer at a legal clinic, he represented a Central American immigrant who had been denied more than $10,000 in overtime pay. The client wanted to settle the case for $3,000, but Torrico persuaded him to hold out and won a $10,000 settlement. The grateful client thanked him and called him a role model for other young Latinos.

Torrico's career in public service began as a policy aide for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He specialized in labor law at Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld in Oakland and Los Angeles, taught labor and employment law at San Jose City College, and served as Senior Assistant Counsel at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose.

In 2001, he opened a private law practice in Fremont, where he worked with unions, took individual employee-rights cases and did criminal defense work, incorporations for small businesses, wills and trusts.

Mr. Torrico served three years as an elected member of the Newark City Council, including a stint as Vice Mayor, before winning election to the Assembly.

Of Latino and Japanese descent, Torrico is the first legislator to join two ethnic caucuses: the Legislative Latino Caucus and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus. A devoted family man, for the past three years Torrico and his wife Raquel have sponsored the not-for-profit "Raquel's Kids" which provides 200 children a year with needed healthcare. The organization's goal is to cover 1,000 children by 2010.

The couple has two children, son Mateo and daughter Amy-Elyzabeth.