Driving Force Newsletter - March 2010

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California Legislator and Car Enthusiast Takes a Stand Against Illegal Street Racing

California Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, born in South Central Los Angeles, is the second youngest of nine children. As a young man living in a single-parent home, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of working families and the opportunities a good education provides.

Passionate about education, he was an elementary school teacher in East Los Angeles for more than 10 years and was involved with the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association. In addition to working diligently on education, health care and family issues, he is focused on making the roads a safer place through measures that oppose illegal street racing.

First elected to the California State Assembly in 2006, Mendoza represents the 56th California Assembly District, which includes the communities of Artesia, Buena Park, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Nietos, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier/unincorporated Whittier, portions of East Whittier and Lakewood. Last year, Assemblymember Mendoza joined forces with the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, which was founded in 2005 and is supported by SEMA. The caucus is a non-partisan group of state legislators whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles.

Working with state legislatures in recent years, the SAN has sought legislation to overhaul existing statutes and create brand-new programs to safeguard and expand the automotive hobby. These efforts have brought a series of significant legislative and regulatory accomplishments for the specialty-equipment industry on issues ranging from equipment standards to registration classifications to emissions-test policy and hobbyist rights. The State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus now numbers approximately 400 total members from all 50 states.


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