New Assemblyman Chris Holden Introduces First Bill

A newly sworn in assemblyman representing Claremont and La Verne Monday introduced a bill he hopes will spark job creation.

Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, was sworn in Monday as the 41st district's representative.  He also will serve as the majority whip of the California Democratic Caucus, according to a news release.

As his first legislative effort, Holden Monday introduced a bill related to economic development and job creation.  Assembly Bill 9 fosters the development, evaluation, and negotiation of economic development policy, according to Holden.

The assemblyman has started meeting with business and labor organizations, as well as members of both policitical parties, to look for ways to work together to deal with the effects of the recession on California workers, he said, adding that unemployment in the state remains in the double digits. 

“We need jobs here and we need jobs now.  AB 9 represents the first step in my commitment to creating jobs here in the 41st District, and in the State of California,” Holden said in a statement. “I am honored to begin my service in the Assembly and will leverage all of my resources as a Member of the Speaker’s Leadership Team work to improve California’s economy.”

Holden represents the 41st Assembly District, which includes the cities of La Verne, Claremont, Upland, San Dimas, Pasadena, portions of South Pasadena, portions of East Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, and Altadena.  He previously served as a councilman and mayor for the city of Pasadena, where he was first elected in 1989.

While in local office, Holden pushed for the creation of a living wage ordinance to bolster the economic prospects of working class residents and chaired Pasadena's Charter Reform Task Force for Schools. 

He championed the creation of a living wage ordinance to improve the economic prospects of working class residents and chaired Pasadena’s Charter Reform Task Force for Schools, according to staff.  He also worked on deregulation of the city's public utility and the expansion of the Metro Gold Line. 

Holden has vowed to continue to push for funding to expand the Gold Lne to Montclair so that Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley communities can be connected to the Inland Empire.