Meet Lou
Keeping the American Dream Alive
Lou is honored to represent the Orange County community where he grew up and raised his family. Lou is the son of working-class parents, immigrants from Mexico, who taught him first-hand about sacrifice and hard work.
Lou remembers watching his mother go to work, to clean hotel rooms at minimum wage, while his father worked at a local paper mill. Lou’s parents gave him opportunity to pursue a public education, something they never had, an education ladder to the middle class.
Lou believes that public education is our society’s great equalizer. Lou is a product of the Anaheim public school system where he attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary, Fremont Junior High, and Anaheim High School. Lou graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Economics. After working and saving money to continue his educational goals, Lou returned to college and earned his Juris Doctor (JD) and a master’s in business administration (MBA) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
After college, Lou used his education to become a banker, attorney, and licensed real estate broker. His time in the private sector prepared him to find real solutions to everyday problems.
Lou has always been active in his community. Then, in 1996, Lou was recruited to run for the California State Assembly. Lou narrowly lost his first election, but ran again in 1998 and won, becoming a voice for the working families in Orange County.
Over the next decade, Lou would go on to serve on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the California State Senate. Today, in the U.S. Congress, Lou continues to fight for his district. He has never forgotten that he works for his constituents, who sent him to Washington.
Lou serves Orange County constituents by supporting public education, public safety, health, fitness and safety for children, mental healthcare services, as well as ensuring the affordability of higher education, and taxpayer equity for all of our county residents.
Today, Lou lives in Santa Ana, just three miles away from where he grew up in Anaheim. Lou’s children attended Santa Ana public schools. Lou is a member of Christ Cathedral Catholic Church and is married to Esther, his spouse of 32 years.
- California Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
- American Electronics Association (two-time honoree)
- California Small Business Association (CSBA)
- California Small Business Roundtable (CSBRT)
- California State Firefighters'Association Crime Victims United of California (three-time honoree)
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California
- American Legion Department of California
- Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
- Boys and Girls Club of America, OC Area Council
- California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (two-time honoree)
- California Optometric Association
- California Senior Legislature
- California Sexual Assault Investigators Association
- Golden State Mobile Home Owners League
- Peace Officers Research Association of California
- California School Boards Association (2014)
- League of California Cities - Orange County (2014) Senate Legislator of the Year
- Legislative Partnership Award (2013) Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance
- Mickey Conroy Legislator of the Year (2012) California State Commanders Veterans Council in recognition of leadership and contributions to California's active-duty military, National Guard, reserves and veterans
- American Veterans (AMVETS) of California (2011)
- BIOCOM
- California Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Inc.
- Easter Seals Disability Services Senate Outstanding Advocate of the Year (2011)
- Orange County Apartment Association
Honors & Awards
- 2015 Person of the Year, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce
- 2015 Poverty Fighting Award, Community Action Partnership of O.C.
- 2015 Vision & Visionaries Award. (California State University Fullerton's highest alumni honor)
- 2014 "Rose Award" (Orange County Taxpayers Association)
- The Order of California, 2014 (Highest civilian commendation awarded by the California National Guard)
- Charles Dick Medal of Merit (National Guard Association of the United States)
- Legislative Leadership Award 2014 (California Product Stewardship Council)
- Disability Rights California Award (2014)
- 2013 Legislative Partnership Award (from Rep. Ed Royce)
- California Building Bridges to Fill America's Promise Award (Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance)
- Cultural Diversity Award (St. Anselm's Cross-Cultural Community Center)
- Golden Hat Award (Vietnamese Professional Society)
- Hunger Fighter Award (California Hunger Coalition)
- Superintendent's Bravo! Award (Santa Ana Unified School District)
- Outstanding Legislator Award (2011) California Rifle and Pistol Association
- California Senior Legislature 2009 Henry J. Mello Award for dedication and continuous contributions to California Senior citizens.
- Civil Justice Leader Award (Civil Justice Association of California)
- Health Care Champion Award - California Hospital Association (CHA)
- California Metals Association
