MEET HECTOR DE LA TORRE
Hector De La Torre has spent his career standing up to powerful special interests to protect workers, consumers and taxpayers. He has taken on the tough fights – from corrupt politicians to heartless insurance companies – and won.
As a member of the Assembly, Hector stood up to the insurance companies to make sure that consumers get the health insurance they paid for. He passed the law to stop insurers from cancelling coverage when you get sick, just when you need it the most.
Hector passed legislation to provide funding for doctors to practice in underserved rural and low income areas and protect services for MediCal patients. Now he’s pushing to make sure that insurance policies are required to cover maternity services that so many California women and families need
Understanding that public education can give more children the chance to achieve the American Dream, Hector has made improving education a top priority.
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MEET HECTOR DE LA TORRE
Hector De La Torre has spent his career standing up to powerful special interests to protect workers, consumers and taxpayers. He has taken on the tough fights – from corrupt politicians to heartless insurance companies – and won.
As a member of the Assembly, Hector stood up to the insurance companies to make sure that consumers get the health insurance they paid for. He passed the law to stop insurers from cancelling coverage when you get sick, just when you need it the most.
Hector passed legislation to provide funding for doctors to practice in underserved rural and low income areas and protect services for MediCal patients. Now he’s pushing to make sure that insurance policies are required to cover maternity services that so many California women and families need.
Understanding that public education can give more children the chance to achieve the American Dream, Hector has made improving education a top priority. He wrote the law that allowed community college students the same access to Cal Grant awards as those attending four-year institutions. Understanding that the school environment is important to learning, Hector has pushed for funding to repair crumbling schools.
With a focus of cracking down on wasteful spending, Hector chairs the Assembly Committee on Accountability. This new committee is digging into the state bureaucracy to make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. In just three months, the committee has identified millions in savings for taxpayers.
In his hometown of South Gate, Hector exposed government corruption and fraud. In the face of pressure from powerful interests and even personal threats, he organized a grassroots campaign to clean up South Gate. Hector led the successful effort to recall corrupt officials, stabilize the city’s finances and restore public trust. He served eight years on the South Gate city council, including two years as Mayor. He continues to be a champion for reform efforts to eliminate corruption at all levels of government.
Before his election to the city council, Hector served in the Labor Department in the Clinton Administration, where he worked to ensure greater safety and security for workers. Under Labor Secretary Robert Reich’s leadership, Hector focused on minimum wage, OSHA enforcement and pension protection.
Hector was elected to the Assembly in 2004. His 50th District includes Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Commerce, Cudahy, Downey, Lynwood, South Gate as well as the unincorporated neighborhoods of Florence-Graham and Walnut Park. He serves on the Accountability and Administrative Review; Health; and Budget Committees.
Hector earned a B.A. from Occidental College. He lives in South Gate with his wife Christine and their children Elinor, Henrik, and Emilia, who are all attending public schools.
