My name is Rocky Ch?vez and it is my privilege to represent the City of Carlsbad in the California State Assembly.
I started my career in public service immediately after graduating from college when I joined the United States Marine Corps. I proudly served my Country for 28 years, reaching the rank of colonel, before retiring in 2001. After retiring from the Marine Corps, I spent seven years on the Oceanside City Council, where I focused primarily on economic development, public safety and quality of life issues. In 2009 I was appointed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve as undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and I later served as acting secretary.
Just this last November, I was elected to represent the 76th Assembly District, which includes Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside and Vista. I ran my campaign on four issues vital to California's success, jobs and the economy, education, veteran affairs and government efficiency.
My number one priority is strengthening California's economy and bringing jobs back to our state. In his recent State of the State address, Gov. Jerry Brown declared that California is recovering from the great recession at a faster pace than the rest of the nation. However, at 9.8 percent, our unemployment rate is significantly higher than the national average. I know my constituents are worried about jobs, new taxes and how the economic situation affects their families.
The second issue I want to focus on is education, something that is near and dear to me.
Before being elected to the State Assembly, I spent six years as the chief education officer of The School of Business and Technology, a charter high school in the Oceanside Unified School District. There are few things more important than ensuring our children are equipped with the tools they need to successfully compete in today's economy. I plan to use my position as a member of the Education Committee and vice-chairman of the Higher Education Committee to ensure this happens.
My third priority is North County's vast Veteran community.
Caring for our veterans is an honor all Californians should be committed to. This legislative session, I have the privilege of serving as the vice-chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. I will use this position to help create and foster programs that help our underserved women veterans, as well as focus on the new issues facing our post-9/11 veterans.
Finally, I am committed to reducing the cost of doing business in California by streamlining regulations and reducing the tax burden that business owners endure. Using my position on the Budget Committee, I will work to make California's government run more efficiently.
I am both honored and humbled to serve you in the State Assembly. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I look forward to years of working together.
I started my career in public service immediately after graduating from college when I joined the United States Marine Corps. I proudly served my Country for 28 years, reaching the rank of colonel, before retiring in 2001. After retiring from the Marine Corps, I spent seven years on the Oceanside City Council, where I focused primarily on economic development, public safety and quality of life issues. In 2009 I was appointed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve as undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and I later served as acting secretary.
Just this last November, I was elected to represent the 76th Assembly District, which includes Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside and Vista. I ran my campaign on four issues vital to California's success, jobs and the economy, education, veteran affairs and government efficiency.
My number one priority is strengthening California's economy and bringing jobs back to our state. In his recent State of the State address, Gov. Jerry Brown declared that California is recovering from the great recession at a faster pace than the rest of the nation. However, at 9.8 percent, our unemployment rate is significantly higher than the national average. I know my constituents are worried about jobs, new taxes and how the economic situation affects their families.
The second issue I want to focus on is education, something that is near and dear to me.
Before being elected to the State Assembly, I spent six years as the chief education officer of The School of Business and Technology, a charter high school in the Oceanside Unified School District. There are few things more important than ensuring our children are equipped with the tools they need to successfully compete in today's economy. I plan to use my position as a member of the Education Committee and vice-chairman of the Higher Education Committee to ensure this happens.
My third priority is North County's vast Veteran community.
Caring for our veterans is an honor all Californians should be committed to. This legislative session, I have the privilege of serving as the vice-chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. I will use this position to help create and foster programs that help our underserved women veterans, as well as focus on the new issues facing our post-9/11 veterans.
Finally, I am committed to reducing the cost of doing business in California by streamlining regulations and reducing the tax burden that business owners endure. Using my position on the Budget Committee, I will work to make California's government run more efficiently.
I am both honored and humbled to serve you in the State Assembly. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I look forward to years of working together.