Long Beach School Renamed For Late State Senator

LONG BEACH, CA -- A Long Beach elementary school was formally renamed Monday for the late state Sen. Jenny Oropeza who began her political career on the city's school board.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, were among the dignitaries attending the 10 a.m. ceremony at the former International Elementary School, along with Oropeza's relatives and friends.

Oropeza began her political career in 1988 by being elected to the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education.

In 1994, Oropeza became the first Latina elected to the Long Beach City Council, which she served on until being elected to the Assembly in 2000.

Oropeza, a Democrat, was elected to the state Senate in 2006, representing portions of the South Bay and Westside. She died Oct. 20, 2010, from a blood clot in her abdomen at the age of 53 but was re-elected less than two weeks later.

Oropeza's accomplishments in the Legislature include laws improving statewide safeguards from cigarette smoke, better protections from breast cancer, resolving a longtime insurance dispute, saving about $500 million annually.

Oropeza also supported numerous transportation improvements and environmental protections.

-- City News Service, photo via the Long Beach Mayor's Office