Fabian Núñez
Encyclopedia
Fabian Núñez (born December 27, 1966, San Diego, United States) has been a labor union adviser and a Democratic politician. He served three two year terms as a member of the State Assembly
, leaving office late in 2008. During his last two terms, Nunez was the Assembly Speaker, the 66th person to hold that position.
.
to represent the 46th district
in 2002. Later, on February 9, 2004 he was selected as the Speaker of the California Assembly.
New laws sponsored by Núñez included prescription drug price reductions, a one dollar increase in the minimum wage, a package of measures alleviate global warming (cosponsored with Assembly member Fran Pavley
), reform of the management structure of the Los Angeles Unified School District (at the behest of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
), and measures to promote competition among cable television providers (cosponsored by Assembly member Lloyd E. Levine
).
Due to term limits, Núñez had to retire from the Assembly after 2008. Starting in fall 2007, he actively campaigned in support of a statewide proposition to amend the term limits law, including being made eligible to serve an additional six years as speaker. This ballot measure, (California Proposition 93 (2008)
), was widely seen as a power grab on the part of Núñez and Senate Majority Leader Don Perata
. In the election of February 5, 2008 the voters of California rejected Proposition 93. He was succeeded by Karen Bass
.
ceremony featuring a talk by retired Rear Admiral and former US Senator Jeremiah Denton
to take place on the floor of the California State Assembly. Assemblyman Jay La Suer
had invited Denton to speak, but Nunez claimed there wasn't time. However, time was made to hold a ceremony honoring a retiring Los Angeles Times
reporter on the day of the planned July 4 ceremony. Assemblyman John Campbell wrote a memo complaining that while Cinco de Mayo
, Saint Patrick's Day
and Chinese New Year
had been celebrated on the Assembly floor during his term, July 4 had not been.
, Vicente Fox
, other high level government officials, and business leaders. The declared purpose of his journey was to strengthen ties between Mexico and California that he claimed had deteriorated under California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger
. At the invitation of Nunez, president Fox eventually traveled to Sacramento and addressed a special joint session of the California State Legislature
.
has alleged that Núñez played the race card
when questioned about his use of campaign funds by saying, "Everyone's done it like this", and "The difference is there are some in politics who want to judge me in a certain manner. Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands."
Some have criticized Núñez for sponsoring major legislation because as Speaker, they believe he should allow other Democratic members to write the legislation and get the credit. Others have criticized Núñez for campaigning on behalf of measures in joint appearances with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
because Núñez was a Campaign Co-Chair for Democratic gubernatorial challenger State Treasurer Phil Angelides
. In the past, Núñez has campaigned with the Governor on behalf of the Governor's Strategic Growth Plan (infrastructure bonds
) but has recently ended public appearances, along with Democratic State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata
, possibly to appease his critics. However, on October 27, 2006 Núñez attended a rally on the campus of the University of Southern California
for Phil Angelides
' campaign for governor on November 7, 2006.
, Mexico (across the international border from San Diego) until Fabian was 8 years old. He spent the rest of his youth in Logan Heights
, a San Diego neighborhood. His parents eventually became United States citizens.
At the age of 31, Núñez earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both political science and education from Pitzer College
in Claremont, California
.
Núñez and Maria Robles divorced in 1995 and remarried in 2005. At the second wedding, Núñez's best man was Antonio Villaraigosa
, a former California Assembly Speaker and since 2005 the Mayor of Los Angeles. He has a god-daughter who lives in Upland, Ca and goes to Upland High School
.
Núñez's son, Esteban was convicted of second-degree manslaughter pursuant to a guilty plea in connection with the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old college student Luis Santos during a drunken brawl on San Diego State University
campus in October 2008, after being refused entrance to a fraternity
party. Three other men were also beaten and stabbed in the incident but survived. Esteban and his three alleged accomplices initially entered not guilty plea
s; Esteban and his friend Ryan Jett pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and the other two accomplices pleaded to lesser charges, after jury selection started in early May 2010. He was sentenced on June 25, 2010 to 16 years in prison for the death of Santos. He was also sentenced under two additional felony counts. On January 2, 2011, outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commuted the sentence of Esteban Núñez, reducing it from 16 years to seven years, stating that he felt the 16-year sentence was "excessive" given that Esteban was not "the actual killer" and Santos' fatal wound was supposedly inflicted not by Núñez himself but by his accomplice Ryan Jett The family of the victim was outraged. Bonnie Dumanis, the San Diego district attorney
who prosecuted Esteban Nunez, stated that Schwarzenegger's decision "greatly diminishes justice." San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith stated that Schwarzenegger reduced the sentence to "help his political crony's son". In April 2011, Schwarzenenegger responded to the controversy stating, "Well hellooooo. I mean, of course you help a friend."
Núñez currently lives in Arden Arcade, a suburb of Sacramento with his wife Maria and their children. Núñez also co-rented a penthouse apartment in downtown Los Angeles with Dan Weitzman, a decade-long friend, and a prominent donor to his campaigns.
is term-limited.
in 2014, when incumbent Bill Lockyer
is termed out.
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, leaving office late in 2008. During his last two terms, Nunez was the Assembly Speaker, the 66th person to hold that position.
Prior to elective office
From 1996 to 2000, Fabian Núñez served as the Political Director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and, between 2000–2002, was the Government Affairs Director for the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
.
As an elected official
Núñez was elected to the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
to represent the 46th district
California's 46th State Assembly district
California's 46th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democratic Speaker John A...
in 2002. Later, on February 9, 2004 he was selected as the Speaker of the California Assembly.
New laws sponsored by Núñez included prescription drug price reductions, a one dollar increase in the minimum wage, a package of measures alleviate global warming (cosponsored with Assembly member Fran Pavley
Fran Pavley
Frances J. "Fran" Pavley is a Democratic politician who currently represents Senate District 23, including portions of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in the California Legislature. She previously served as a California Assemblywoman and as the first mayor of the Southern California community of...
), reform of the management structure of the Los Angeles Unified School District (at the behest of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
), and measures to promote competition among cable television providers (cosponsored by Assembly member Lloyd E. Levine
Lloyd E. Levine
Lloyd Edward Levine is a Democratic politician who represented California's 40th State Assembly district between December 2002 and November 2008. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Levine served as Legislative Director to former Assemblymember John Longville.Assemblymember Levine earned a...
).
Due to term limits, Núñez had to retire from the Assembly after 2008. Starting in fall 2007, he actively campaigned in support of a statewide proposition to amend the term limits law, including being made eligible to serve an additional six years as speaker. This ballot measure, (California Proposition 93 (2008)
California Proposition 93 (2008)
Proposition 93 was a Californian ballot proposition that sought to amend the term limits law for the California state legislature. Voters rejected it on February 5, 2008.- Proposal :...
), was widely seen as a power grab on the part of Núñez and Senate Majority Leader Don Perata
Don Perata
Don Richard Perata is a California Democratic politician, who was President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008. He came in second place in the November 2010 ballot for Mayor of Oakland...
. In the election of February 5, 2008 the voters of California rejected Proposition 93. He was succeeded by Karen Bass
Karen Bass
Karen Ruth Bass is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to her election to Congress in 2010, she had served as a member of the California State Assembly representing the 47th district since 2004...
.
Controversial decision canceling July 4 ceremony
While serving as Speaker in 2004, Núñez made the controversial decision to not allow a July 4Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
ceremony featuring a talk by retired Rear Admiral and former US Senator Jeremiah Denton
Jeremiah Denton
Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. is a retired United States Navy rear admiral, naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. senator, for the state of Alabama...
to take place on the floor of the California State Assembly. Assemblyman Jay La Suer
Jay La Suer
Jay La Suer is a Republican politician from the state of California.La Suer has a BA in Public Administration from San Diego State University...
had invited Denton to speak, but Nunez claimed there wasn't time. However, time was made to hold a ceremony honoring a retiring Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reporter on the day of the planned July 4 ceremony. Assemblyman John Campbell wrote a memo complaining that while Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla...
, Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
and Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
had been celebrated on the Assembly floor during his term, July 4 had not been.
Goodwill mission to Mexico
In August 2005, Núñez traveled to Mexico to meet with the president of MexicoPresident of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
, Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
, other high level government officials, and business leaders. The declared purpose of his journey was to strengthen ties between Mexico and California that he claimed had deteriorated under California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
. At the invitation of Nunez, president Fox eventually traveled to Sacramento and addressed a special joint session of the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
.
Allegations of funding improprieties
On October 10, 2007, the Los Angeles Times reported that Núñez had allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars of campaign money for personal expenses, such as $1800 for a meal at a Parisian restaurant and $5000 for wine from Bordeaux.The Sacramento BeeThe Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee is a daily newspaper published in Sacramento, California, in the United States. Since its creation in 1857, the Bee has become Sacramento's largest newspaper, the fifth largest newspaper in California, and the 25th largest paper in the U.S...
has alleged that Núñez played the race card
Race card
Playing the race card is an idiomatic phrase that refers to exploitation of either racist or anti-racist attitudes to gain a personal advantage, typically by falsely accusing others of racism against oneself.-Usage:...
when questioned about his use of campaign funds by saying, "Everyone's done it like this", and "The difference is there are some in politics who want to judge me in a certain manner. Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands."
Some have criticized Núñez for sponsoring major legislation because as Speaker, they believe he should allow other Democratic members to write the legislation and get the credit. Others have criticized Núñez for campaigning on behalf of measures in joint appearances with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
because Núñez was a Campaign Co-Chair for Democratic gubernatorial challenger State Treasurer Phil Angelides
Phil Angelides
Philip Nicholas "Phil" Angelides is an American politician who was California State Treasurer and the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of California in the 2006 elections...
. In the past, Núñez has campaigned with the Governor on behalf of the Governor's Strategic Growth Plan (infrastructure bonds
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
) but has recently ended public appearances, along with Democratic State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata
Don Perata
Don Richard Perata is a California Democratic politician, who was President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008. He came in second place in the November 2010 ballot for Mayor of Oakland...
, possibly to appease his critics. However, on October 27, 2006 Núñez attended a rally on the campus of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
for Phil Angelides
Phil Angelides
Philip Nicholas "Phil" Angelides is an American politician who was California State Treasurer and the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of California in the 2006 elections...
' campaign for governor on November 7, 2006.
Personal life
Núñez is the tenth of twelve children. He was born in San Diego, California to Mexican parents, but the family lived in TijuanaTijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Mexico (across the international border from San Diego) until Fabian was 8 years old. He spent the rest of his youth in Logan Heights
Logan Heights, San Diego, California
Logan Heights is a neighborhood in central San Diego, California. It is bordered by Interstate 5 on the south and west, Interstate 15 on the east, and Imperial Avenue on the north.-History:...
, a San Diego neighborhood. His parents eventually became United States citizens.
At the age of 31, Núñez earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both political science and education from Pitzer College
Pitzer College
Pitzer College is a private residential liberal arts college located in Claremont, California, a college town approximately east of downtown Los Angeles. Pitzer College is one of the Claremont Colleges....
in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
.
Núñez and Maria Robles divorced in 1995 and remarried in 2005. At the second wedding, Núñez's best man was Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
, a former California Assembly Speaker and since 2005 the Mayor of Los Angeles. He has a god-daughter who lives in Upland, Ca and goes to Upland High School
Upland High School
Upland High School is a public four-year secondary school located in the city of Upland, California. The school was established in 1955 as part of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, and since 1991 it has been a member of the Upland Unified School District.-History:Just prior to the City...
.
Núñez's son, Esteban was convicted of second-degree manslaughter pursuant to a guilty plea in connection with the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old college student Luis Santos during a drunken brawl on San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
campus in October 2008, after being refused entrance to a fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
party. Three other men were also beaten and stabbed in the incident but survived. Esteban and his three alleged accomplices initially entered not guilty plea
Plea
In legal terms, a plea is simply an answer to a claim made by someone in a civil or criminal case under common law using the adversary system. Colloquially, a plea has come to mean the assertion by a criminal defendant at arraignment, or otherwise in response to a criminal charge, whether that...
s; Esteban and his friend Ryan Jett pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and the other two accomplices pleaded to lesser charges, after jury selection started in early May 2010. He was sentenced on June 25, 2010 to 16 years in prison for the death of Santos. He was also sentenced under two additional felony counts. On January 2, 2011, outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commuted the sentence of Esteban Núñez, reducing it from 16 years to seven years, stating that he felt the 16-year sentence was "excessive" given that Esteban was not "the actual killer" and Santos' fatal wound was supposedly inflicted not by Núñez himself but by his accomplice Ryan Jett The family of the victim was outraged. Bonnie Dumanis, the San Diego district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
who prosecuted Esteban Nunez, stated that Schwarzenegger's decision "greatly diminishes justice." San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith stated that Schwarzenegger reduced the sentence to "help his political crony's son". In April 2011, Schwarzenenegger responded to the controversy stating, "Well hellooooo. I mean, of course you help a friend."
Núñez currently lives in Arden Arcade, a suburb of Sacramento with his wife Maria and their children. Núñez also co-rented a penthouse apartment in downtown Los Angeles with Dan Weitzman, a decade-long friend, and a prominent donor to his campaigns.
2010 elections
Núñez filed paperwork to run for the California Senate in 2010 but withdrew. Incumbent Democrat Gil CedilloGil Cedillo
Gilbert Anthony Cedillo is a politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in the California State Assembly....
is term-limited.
2014 election
Núñez has created a campaign finance committee and announced that he will run for California State TreasurerCalifornia State Treasurer
The California State Treasurer is responsible for the state's investment and finance. The post has more narrow responsibilities and authority than the California State Controller...
in 2014, when incumbent Bill Lockyer
Bill Lockyer
William Westwood "Bill" Lockyer is an American politician. He is the current 32nd State Treasurer of California, elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. He has also served as California Attorney General and President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate...
is termed out.
Newspaper profiles
- Sacramento Bee, "On the rise," February 7, 2004
- Los Angeles Times, "Nuñez travels the world like a high-roller," October 5, 2007
- How Núñez rose to power so fast Champion of Prop. 93, in Assembly only 5 years, had modest beginnings