Legislative Lifetime Achievement Awards

The CSU is proud to honor Fabian Núñez, Speaker of the California State Assembly and Don Perata, Senate President pro Tem, with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Awards. Both Núñez and Perata were cited for their support of higher education and were instrumental in advocating for legislation that will help the CSU provide greater programs and services to the people of California.

Fabian Núñez, Speaker of the California State Assembly

Speaker of the California Assembly since 2004, Fabian Núñez (D- 46th District) was elected to the Assembly in 2002. He co-authored AB1X, the largest state expansion of health care coverage in the nation's history, which the Assembly approved in 2007 and will soon be up for a vote in the California State Senate. Last year, Núñez also authored AB 118, a bill that will fund alternative fuels research and promote cleaner air. In 2006, he authored first-in-the-nation legislation (AB 32) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from California industries and crafted legislation to raise California's minimum wage to the highest in the nation. Núñez also led the successful fight for more than $4 billion in infrastructure investments for California, including funds for school modernization and construction, affordable housing, and traffic congestion relief.

In April 2007, Núñez was named by U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as a national campaign co-chair. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, from 2000-2002, Núñez was government affairs director for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he tackled a broad range of education issues and secured millions in funding for school construction projects, children's health insurance and low-performing schools.

Núñez earned BA degrees in political science and education from Pitzer College in Claremont.

Don Perata, Senate President pro Tem

Senate President pro Tem Don Perata represents the 9th Senate District including the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond and San Pablo. Initially elected into office in 1998, Perata has been unanimously elected President pro Tem three times by the members of the California State Senate. Elected to the California Assembly in 1996, Perata fought to ban "Joe Camel" and similar marketing aimed at children, introduced legislation (AB 23) to close the loophole in previous assault weapons ban legislation and co-authored legislation for mental health parity that became a model for the entire country.

His legislative accomplishments include the securing of $5 million for Alameda County in the state budget to help fund local efforts that reduce violence and recidivism; authoring global warming legislation that requires California utilities to contract for cleaner sources of energy; increasing funding for urban school districts; serving as a key force in the success of the historic infrastructure bonds to rebuild California's roads, schools, levees and housing; legislation to create a discount drug program; banning assault weapons in California; and requiring HMOs to pay for mental health treatment.

After graduating from St. Mary's College of California, Perata taught civics, English and history (1966-1981).