Ken Trujillo

Ken Trujillo
Born Española, New Mexico
Residence Philadelphia
Alma mater Penn Law School
Political party Democrat
Spouse(s) Laura
Children Maya
Website kentrujillo.com

Ken Trujillo Ken Trujillo is a former Democratic candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia.[1] As one of five children in a family often facing poverty, Trujillo attended public schools and became the only one in his family to graduate from college.[2] He then went on to graduate Penn Law School in 1986, where he now teaches as an adjunct professor.[3] Trujillo founded The Food Stamp Clinic in West Philadelphia, worked at Community Legal Aid Services, and spent two decades growing Congreso into one of the largest anti-poverty advocates in the nation.[4] Trujillo also served Philadelphia as City Solicitor and an Assistant U.S. Attorney,[5] winning a historic settlement against gun manufacturers[6] and taking down Philadelphia's largest heroin gang[7] and bank robbery ring.[8] A small business owner, Trujillo founded a successful law practice[9] and purchased historic WHAT 1340 AM, relaunching it as the Spanish-language station El Zol Philly.[10] He was part of President Obama's transition team, and Governor Ed Rendell also appointed Trujillo to oversee Philadelphia's finances as his first appointee to Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.[11] Trujillo lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Laura, of nearly twenty years and their fifteen-year-old daughter, Maya.

Early life

The son of a minister and a nurses' aide, Ken Trujillo grew up with four sisters living for long stretches in the back of churches where his father ministered.[12] Trujillo's family often struggled to get by, having to rely on food stamps at times and school lunch programs.

Trujillo attended public schools and credits his teachers with giving him the tools to become the only one in his family to graduate from college.[13]

Trujillo later earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1986 with the help of student loans and several part-time jobs.[14]

Career

US Attorney

After graduating from law school, Trujillo was appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney,[15] where he successfully prosecuted Philadelphia's largest heroin gang[16] and the biggest bank robbery ring in city history.[17]

City Solicitor

Trujillo's success in the courtroom earned him the position of Philadelphia's City Solicitor.[18] As the city's top lawyer, he brought a lawsuit against gun manufacturers[19] and reached an historic settlement with Smith & Wesson.[20]

Small Business

In 1997, Trujillo started his own firm, Trujillo Rodriguez & Richards.[21] After winning historic cases against predatory lenders, the firm ultimately combined with top Philadelphia firm Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, where Ken continues to work to this day.[22] In 2011, Trujillo purchased historic WHAT 1340 AM and relaunched the station as Spanish-language radio El Zol Philly.[23]

Public Service

Nonprofit Work

While at Penn Law, Trujillo joined with other students to start The Food Stamp Clinic in West Philadelphia. Since 1990, he has helped build Congreso, which provides underserved communities with education, job training, and housing and health care services, into one of the leading anti-poverty organizations in Philadelphia.[24] He and his wife, Laura, have also worked for many years with Community Legal Services to provide free legal services to low income Philadelphians, who otherwise would have gone unrepresented at trial.[25] He also holds a position on the Community Leadership Board for the Greater Philadelphia Area American Diabetes Association.

Political Involvement

Trujillo was appointed to President Obama's transition team where he made recommendations on how to reform the Securities and Exchange Committee Commission.[26] Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell also appointed him to oversee Philadelphia's finances as his first appointee to Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.[27] In January 2015, he withdrew from the Mayoral race due to extended family matters.[28]

Personal life

Ken first met his wife, Laura, on a blind date set up by their families at the local American Legion Hall. They have been happily married for almost twenty years, and live with their fifteen-year-old daughter, Maya, in Philadelphia.

References

  1. ↑ by Damon C. Williams at The Philadelphia Tribune; published September 19, 2014
  2. ↑ by Arturo Varela at Al Dia News; published January 13, 2015
  3. ↑ by Joe Li at The Daily Pennsylvanian; published September 30, 2014
  4. ↑ by Congreso (Press release); published April 29, 2014
  5. ↑ by Ron Avery at Philadelphia Daily News; published January 28, 2000
  6. ↑ by staff writers at the Wall Street Journal; published June 5, 2000
  7. ↑ by David Zucchino at the Philadelphia Inquirer; published July 24, 1991
  8. ↑ by Jim Smith at the Philadelphia Daily News; published September 22, 1993
  9. ↑ by Jeff Blumenthal at the Philadelphia Business Journal; published July 30, 2013
  10. ↑ by Philly Ad Club; published December 13, 2011
  11. ↑ by Damon C. Williams at The Philadelphia Tribune; published September 19, 2014
  12. ↑ by Arturo Varela at Al Dia News; published January 13, 2015
  13. ↑ by Arturo Varela at Al Dia News; published January 13, 2015
  14. ↑ by Joe Li at The Daily Pennsylvanian; published September 30, 2014
  15. ↑ by Ron Avery at Philadelphia Daily News; published January 28, 2000
  16. ↑ by David Zucchino at the Philadelphia Inquirer; published July 24, 1991
  17. ↑ by Jim Smith at the Philadelphia Daily News; published September 22, 1993
  18. ↑ by Robert Zausner and Clea Benson at The Philadelphia Inquirer; published January 28, 2000
  19. ↑ by Michael Rubinkam at the Associated Press; published April 12, 2000
  20. ↑ by staff writers at the Wall Street Journal; published June 5, 2000
  21. ↑ by Jeff Blumenthal at the Philadelphia Business Journal; published July 30, 2013
  22. ↑ by Jeff Blumenthal at the Philadelphia Business Journal; published July 30, 2013
  23. ↑ by Philly Ad Club; published December 13, 2011
  24. ↑ by Congreso (Press release); published April 29, 2014
  25. ↑ by Anne Saporito in the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal; published June 2011
  26. ↑ by Damon C. Williams at The Philadelphia Tribune; published September 19, 2014
  27. ↑ by Lora Strum at PoliticsPA; published September 16, 2014
  28. ↑ by Chris Hepp at The Philadelphia Inquirer; published January 22, 2015
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