Monday, March 2, 1998
Alumnus elected state assembly speaker
POLITICS: Villaraigosa exceptional as leader, powerful
speechmaker
By Gregory Mena
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It was the first image that came to his mind: Antonio
Villaraigosa speaking at a rally on the steps of Murphy Hall. It
was the late ’70s, and students were protesting anti-immigrant
legislation proposed in the California Assembly.
When he addressed the crowd, Antonio had an intuitive knack for
phrasing things in just the right way, remembered Juan
Gomez-Quinones, UCLA history professor.
Legislators may not have heard of Villaraigosa then, but now, 20
years later, he is running the Assembly.
On Thursday, Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles, was sworn in as the
next speaker of the California Assembly, replacing Cruz Bustamante,
D-Fresno. He will serve a maximum of three years.
"It’s an honor, there’s no question about it, to be elected by
my colleagues," Villaraigosa said.
"What it says is that the American dream is still alive."
Villaraigosa rose to his new position "the hard way." He is very
proud of his story and presents himself as a living example of
opportunity fulfilled.
Villaraigosa was born and raised in East Los Angeles. He
encountered a major setback at the age of five, when his father
walked out of his life, leaving his mother to raise three
children.
Finishing high school was problematic, to say the least. He
earned a reputation as a fighter and was expelled from Cathedral
High School for brawling and for a poor academic record. He dropped
out of another school, Roosevelt High, for a while but returned to
graduate in 1971.
He then attended East L.A. Community College and sharpened his
GPA.
At that time, Villaraigosa recalled making good money working as
a machine operator. He was sure to be promoted, too, and to earn
even more.
That was when his letter of acceptance from UCLA arrived,
presenting him with a dilemma.
But we know how that turned out.
"I had a wonderful education at UCLA. It was during those years
that I formed a big part of who I am," Villaraigosa said.
He entered the university, admittedly, as an "affirmative action
baby," and remains grateful for that chance.
"Somebody opened the door of opportunity for me, and I want to
keep it open for other people," Villaraigosa said.
As an undergraduate, Villaraigosa studied history and was
remembered as a "hard worker" in the classroom.
"He had family responsibilities, and he was also active in the
community," Gomez-Quinones said. "That requires a lot of stamina
and commitment."
While at UCLA, he was an organizer for Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA).
Those who heard him speak remember his striking idealism, always
delivered with controlled emotion.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Villaraigosa attended the
People’s College of Law in Los Angeles.
He also served as a president of the Southern California chapter
of the American Civil Liberties Union.
In 1994, he was elected to the 45th Assembly district, which
includes Echo Park, Highland Park, Silver Lake, Eagle Rock and
Hollywood.
Villaraigosa takes his recent appointment in the name of Latinos
but is not satisfied with that.
"There is no question there is a pride to electing a Latino
speaker. I represent Latinos, but I represent all of California,"
he said.
His political agenda focuses on education, health care and
children issues reflective of his own life.
He wrote a bill in 1995 providing $33 million to keep juvenile
probation camps going. Last year, he authored a bill to extend
health care to 580,000 uninsured children.
He says that he wants California to be a place where a success
story like his can happen to anyone.
"A great education will be a waste if you don’t give back," he
said.
"The biggest thing is to make sure we continue to make
California a place of opportunity."
The Associated Press
UCLA alumnus Antonio Villaraigosa delivers his swearing-in
speech at the State Assembly on Thursday. The new Speaker of the
Assembly said that he reached success "the hard way."