- Member of California State Assembly representing L.A. 2004-2010; member of South Gate City Council for 8 years, including 2 as Mayor
- Current Chair of L.A. Care, the largest public health plan in U.S.; Trustee of Occidental College; former Executive Director of national nonprofit Transamerica Center for Health Studies
- Former Chair of state Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services, Rules Committee, and Accountability & Administrative Review Committee, among others
- Assembly-Appointed Member of California Air Resources Board since 2011, with focus on goods movement, the environment and green tech
- Graduate of Occidental College; graduate work at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University
- Early, vocal advocate for cannabis policy reform