Ruben Gallego

Ruben Gallego
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 7th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Ed Pastor
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 16th district
In office
January 10, 2011 – March 14, 2014
Preceded by Cloves Campbell
Succeeded by Norma Muñoz
Personal details
Born Ruben Marinelarena
(1979-11-20) November 20, 1979
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Kate Widland
Alma mater Harvard University
Religion Roman Catholicism[1]
Website House website
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 2000–2006
Rank Corporal
Battles/wars Iraq War

Ruben Marinelarena Gallego (born November 20, 1979) is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative for Arizona's 7th congressional district. A Democrat, he previously served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. He served as assistant minority leader in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2012 until his resignation to run for Congress, due to Arizona's resign-to-run law. Gallego was elected to Congress in the 2014 midterm congressional elections.

Personal life and education

Gallego was born in Chicago[2] and is a second-generation American. Along with his three sisters, he was raised by a single mother.[3] On August 7, 2008, Ruben Marinelarena changed his name to Ruben Marinelarena Gallego to honor his single mother.[4] Gallego is married to Kate Gallego, a member of the Phoenix City Council.[5] He graduated from Harvard University in 2004.[6]

Gallego currently sits on the boards of Valley Citizens League, the Children’s Museum, and the President’s Community Advisory Board for South Mountain Community College.[7]

Career

Deciding to leave college at Harvard University, Gallego joined the Marines. After completing infantry training, he deployed to Iraq with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. 3/25 would lose 46 Marines and two Navy corpsmen between January 2005 and January 2006, according to the Marine Corps official website.[8]

Gallego lost his best friend in combat in Iraq.[3] His desire to help fellow veterans motivated the formerly apolitical Gallego to get involved with politics.[8]

In 2011, he was named as a distinguished freshman lawmaker by The Arizona Republic.[9] Gallego's first successful bill granted in-state tuition status to veterans residing in Arizona.[3] Gallego supports the repeal of Arizona SB 1070. He considers education to be the most important long-term priority for Arizona.[6] In 2012, Gallego was elected assistant minority leader.[10]

He founded the group Citizens for Professional Law Enforcement, with the goal of recalling Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Gallego cited Arpaio's immigration policies and his use of taxpayer money to investigate Barack Obama's citizenship as reasons for recalling Arpaio.[11]

Gallego works for Strategies 360 as Director of Latino and New Media operations. He also worked for Riester, one of the largest public relations firms in Arizona, and for Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives

2014 election

On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in Arizona's 7th congressional district.[13] Gallego resigned from the Arizona House in March 2014.[14] Mayday PAC, a super PAC seeking to reduce the role of money in politics, announced its endorsement of Gallego because of his impressive evolution on the issue of campaign finance reform.[15] He was elected United States Representative for Arizona's 7th District on November 4, 2014. On February 28, 2013 Gallego voted against an amendment that sought to raise campaign finance limits for federal candidates and abolish all limits for state candidates, HB 2523.[16] He has since been a vocal supporter of the Government By the People Act.[17]

Committee assignments

References

  1. ↑ "Arizona-7: Ruben Gallego (D)". National Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Lopatin, Shari (September 2011). "Marine Turned Politician". Phoenix Magazine. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/12/this-arizona-candidate-changed-his-name-his-opponent-wasnt-happy-about-it/
  5. ↑ "Contact Councilwoman Kate Gallego". City of Phoenix. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Candidate Q and A: Ruben Gallego". AZCentral.com. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Representative Ruben Gallego". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Ambition, Life Experience Driving State Representative". Phoenix Magazine. 25 Jan 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Pitzl, Mary Jo (21 May 2011). "Arizona House and Senate distinguished freshmen". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Democrats select leaders in Arizona House, Senate". My Fox Memphis. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  11. ↑ Celock, John (25 September 2012). "Joe Arpaio Opponents Form Super PAC To Unseat Arizona Sheriff". Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ruben Gallego". Strategies 360. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ruben Gallego, Arizona State Rep., Announces Bid For Congress". Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  14. ↑ http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/24981824/rep-gallego-resigns-from-arizona-house
  15. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (11 August 2014). "A leading ‘anti-super PAC’ just backed three more candidates for Congress". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  16. ↑ http://votesmart.org/bill/16626/43942/123732/amends-campaign-finance-limits#.U_wW1EuA88M
  17. ↑ http://gallegoforarizona.com/tag/ruben-gallego/

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ed Pastor		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 7th congressional district
2015–present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Tom Emmer		 United States Representatives by seniority
395th 		Succeeded by
Gwen Graham
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