Padilla adds a title

Alex Padilla elected President
of the League of California Cities
He is the first Latino elected to lead the League

SAN FRANCISCO - Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla was
elected President of the League of California Cities on Saturday,
October 8 during the League's annual conference held this year in San
Francisco. The League of Cities seeks to restore and protect local
control for California's 478 cities through education and advocacy.

The League of Cities is seen as an organization with growing political
clout since its success in placing Proposition 1A on the ballot in 2004
and winning a landslide victory with 84% of the vote. Prop. 1A provides
local government revenues constitutional protection from state raids.
Padilla played a key role in the negotiations with the Legislature and
the Governor's office as Prop 1A was drafted.

In his speech to a convention hall full of delegates Padilla presented
an agenda that focused on the states ailing infrastructure, public
health and education. "With Proposition 1A we demonstrated what cities
could achieve when we are united with a common vision. We must move
forward with that same sense of unity and common purpose on issues that
impact us all," Padilla said. Padilla gave special emphasis to the
state of California's public schools. "We all have a stake in the
quality of public education and we should not shy away from that
responsibility," he added.

Alex Padilla has participated in a local government coalition which
consists of representatives of the California State Association of
Counties, the State School Boards Association and the League of Cities.
The three organizations have found strength in working together to
protect local funding as they most often represent the same constituents
and have historically been targeted for cut during state budget
negotiations.

Padilla, 32, is the first Latino elected President of the League in its
107-year history. To prepare for this leadership role, he had
previously served as both the League's 2nd and 1st Vice President.
Padilla also served as President of the League's Latino Caucus.

Padilla's groundbreaking election at the League was not his first; he
was also the first Latino elected President of the Los Angeles City
Council in more than 100 years, winning that seat at the age of 28.
Padilla continues to serve as President of the Los Angeles City Council,
California's largest city, where he is not only the youngest member of
the Council but also its most senior member.