When the membership of the Assembly Higher Education Committee was named it contained four freshmen members, including Assembly Member Paul Fong (D-Cupertino). Although Mr. Fong has two degrees from San Jose State, his most recent higher education experience has been with the community colleges system as he has taught at one of their campuses and served on the board of community colleges as well.

In addition to his service on the Higher Education Committee, Assembly Member Fong is the Chair of the Elections and Redistricting Committee, which oversees all issues that relate to voting districts elections. He also is a member of the Banking and Finance, and Utilities and Commerce Committees. Assembly Member Fong is a member of the Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, the Community College Caucus, and the Environmental Caucus.

It should be noted that Assembly member Fong is often referred to as the “Godfather” of Asian-Pacific Islander politics in district of San Jose. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Paul was very active in raising money for Asian Americans in politics in the Silicon Valley and has helped individuals such as Norman Mineta, Mike Honda, both of whom are from San Jose, and many others in their local races.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Mr. Fong served on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees having been first elected in 1993. Mr. Fong also served on the board of the California Community Colleges Trustees (CCCT) and is a political science professor at Evergreen Valley College.

Mr. Fong serves on the following boards - Community Housing Developers (CHD); Sacred Heart Community Services; Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI); California Community College Trustees (CCCT); and the California Community Colleges Asian Pacific American Trustees Association. He has also served on the Child and Adolescent Health Commission; Mental Health Advisory Board; Private Industry Council; Human Development Advisory Planning Council, City of Sunnyvale; Chinese Community Center Board of Directors; Chinese American Citizens League; West Valley Chinese Language School; Leadership Sunnyvale; Asian American Parents Association; De Anza Bilingual Center; California Community Colleges Latino Trustees Association; Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara County, and the NAACP.

Mr. Fong is a graduated of San Jose State and also received his M.P.A. from his alma mater. In addition he received a master's in education from the University of San Francisco. He and his wife Grace are the third generation owners of YK Fong Nursery, and the Flower Cottage in Sunnyvale. Paul and Grace have three children, Sean, Nicole and Sydney.

The 22nd Assembly District in 2008 is located in the southern Bay Area, and is made up of Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and portions of Santa Clara County, Santa Clara and San Jose.