(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia joined the California Latino Legislative Caucus in honoring two distinguished Imperial Valley natives at this year’s 2015 Latino Spirit Awards. The Latino Spirit Awards were established in 2002 at the State Capitol in Sacramento to coincide the state’s acknowledgement of Cinco de Mayo and to highlight positive role models in our community.
The Latino Caucus hosts the awards to celebrate individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to empowering the greater Latino community in their respective fields. The 2015 Latino Spirit Award honorees include:
- Justice Frances Muñoz, Achievement in Law & Public Service
- Northgate Gonzalez Market, Achievement in Business & Philanthropy
- Blanca Ramirez, Dynamic Youth Award
- *Sergio Romo, Achievement in Athletics
- Maria Elena Durazo, Achievement in Public Service
- *José R. Padilla, Achievement in Law & Public Service
- Rolando Herrera, Achievement in Business
“It’s an honor to have recognized the achievements of two Imperial Valley champions like Sergio Romo and Jose R. Padilla—who both grew up in the Imperial Valley and are positive role models in both the athletic and legal community. Today’s awardees truly embody what it is to be a visionary in our great state and they are to be commended for the work they have done in their respective field and communities,” stated Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.
*About Jose R. Padilla
José R. Padilla has dedicated his 37-year legal career to advocating for the rights of California’s farm worker and rural poverty communities through California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA). He was born and raised in the Imperial Valley to parents who came from farm worker families. He attended Stanford University and received his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1978. After graduating, José spent his first six years with CRLA as a staff attorney and later Directing Attorney of CRLA’s Imperial Valley, El Centro Office. In 1984, José was selected to serve as the Executive Director of CRLA, a position he has held for 31 years. He oversees the administration of what is considered one of the premier and most respected Legal Services programs in the country. CRLA has 22 offices which serve the rural poor in some 24 California counties. Through its Migrant Unit, CRLA’s legal work addresses the special needs of farm workers with cases focusing on pesticide exposure, housing, labor, education, civil rights, and environmental justice. Annually, CRLA assists more than 40,000 rural poor with legal services.
*About Sergio Romo
Sergio Romo is a 3-time World Series Champion (2010, 2012, 2014) as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Originally from Brawley, California, Romo’s love of the baseball began at an early age. Sergio’s father Frank, who played semi-pro baseball in Mexicali, bought Sergio his first glove when he was 2. Although Sergio pitched well in high school, he received no scholarship offers from four-year schools because his size at the time – 5 feet 7 inches – was short for his position. Sergio went on to attend several colleges, before completing his collegiate career at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he went 14-1, broke six school records, and was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. In 2005, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and made his MLB debut in June 2008. He has achieved many great feats with the Giants including receiving the Baseball Setup Man of the Year Award in 2012, being named to the All-Star team in 2013, and serving as the Giants closer throughout the 2012 postseason in which he recorded the last out in nine of the Giant’s eleven wins. Romo is also extremely active in the Bay Area community, attending and participating in several community events, including challenger clinics and Make-A-Wish Nights.
The 14th Annual Latino Spirit Award ceremony took place on Monday, May 4, 2015 at the California State Capitol during the Assembly Floor Session. For more information and complete biographies of this year’s honorees, please click here.
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Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy. He represents the 56th district, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
