Assemblymember Chris Holden

Chris Holden is a longtime San Gabriel Valley civic and community leader who brings to Sacramento decades of experience in public service and business. He was elected to the State Assembly in November 2012 and was soon appointed Majority Whip.

Assemblymember Holden had an impressive record of success in his freshman term with seven of his proposed measures signed into law. These key measures include providing more funds for domestic violence shelters, ensuring tax breaks for military personnel, helping small businesses and creating economic opportunity for pioneering start-up companies.

In addition to his appointment as Majority Whip, Holden also serves on the Appropriations Committee; Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee; Labor and Employment Committee and the Assembly Committee on Legislative Ethics. Asm. Holden also sits on the Transportation Committee where he continues his efforts in promoting light rail to connect the Foothills region and Los Angeles. He was appointed to the Governing Board of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Select Committee on Community Colleges as well as the Select Committee on Innovative Green Financing Mechanisms, Select Committee on Regional Transportation Solutions and the Select Committee on Local Emergency Preparedness.

Assemblymember Holden represents the 41st Assembly District which stretches across two counties and includes the communities of Altadena, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, La Verne, San Dimas, Claremont, San Antonio Heights, Alta Loma and Upland.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Chris Holden served 23 years as a Pasadena City Councilmember and Mayor. He was the youngest City Councilmember at age 28 and only the second African American to serve as Mayor. Throughout his years of public service, Chris has been a champion in creating jobs, preserving vital services, strengthening the economic vitality of the San Gabriel Valley and expanding light rail.

While on the city council, Chris fought for the city’s first living wage ordinance, and managed deregulation of the city’s public utility in a way that preserved jobs while keeping rates lower than in the private marketplace.

In addition to his accomplishments as a City Councilmember, Chris served as a Commissioner and President of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and on the Pasadena Light Rail Alignment Task Force.

He has been honored for his leadership with the Political Vanguard Award by the California Black Chamber of Commerce and the Rose Award by the Black History Parade. Holden received top grades from the Congress of California Seniors and the League of Conservation Voters in his first year in the Assembly.

Chris owns CHMB Consulting, a real estate firm. He is a lifelong resident of the district and graduate of San Diego State University. He lives in Pasadena with his wife, Melanie, and children Nicholas, Alexander, Austin, Mariah and Noah.

Categories: Goverment