Chris Holden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Holden
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| Majority Leader of the California Assembly | |
| In office December 1, 2014 – March 10, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | V. Manuel Perez |
| Succeeded by | Ian Calderon |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 41st district |
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| In office December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Julia Brownley (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | John Harabedian |
| 53rd Mayor of Pasadena | |
| In office May 1997 – May 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Paparian |
| Succeeded by | Bill Bogaard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 19, 1960 Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Melanie Holden |
| Children | 5 |
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| Residences | Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | San Diego State University |
| Profession | Small businessman |
Christopher R. Holden (born July 19, 1960) is an American politician. He served in the California State Assembly from 2012 until 2024. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He represented the 41st Assembly District, which includes the northern San Gabriel Valley area, especially Pasadena.
Chris Holden was part of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Before he was elected to the Assembly in 2012, he was a mayor and a City Council member in Pasadena. His father, Nate Holden, was also a politician in Los Angeles. Before he retired, Chris Holden was the chairman of the Appropriations Committee. This was a very important position, second only to the Speaker.
Chris Holden's Early Career
Before joining the State Assembly, Chris Holden was a member of the Pasadena City Council. He also served as the mayor of Pasadena from 1997 to 1999. He was one of the longest-serving city council members in Pasadena's history, starting in 1989.
Chris Holden went to Pasadena High School and then to San Diego State University. He first tried to join the Pasadena City Council in 1985 but did not win that election. Four years later, he was elected. In 1997, he was chosen to be the mayor. During his time as mayor, the city changed its rules so that people could directly vote for the mayor. However, in the first citywide mayoral election, Chris Holden was not re-elected.
He also served as the Assembly Majority Floor Leader. This role meant he helped guide the laws being discussed in the Assembly. Chris Holden is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.
Laws Chris Holden Helped Pass
During his first time in office, Chris Holden worked on several important laws. He introduced a law that would require schools in California to teach about the importance of Barack Obama's time as president.
He also worked on a law to help solve the problem of grease being stolen from restaurants. This might sound unusual, but stolen cooking grease can be a big issue for businesses.
Another important area he focused on was economic development and creating jobs. He introduced laws to study how to make the economy stronger and create more opportunities for people to work.
Chris Holden also played a big part in creating laws to deal with California's wildfire problems. He successfully passed laws on this topic and was a main negotiator during the process. This means he helped different groups agree on the best ways to prevent and fight wildfires.
