California Roast

Each year, friends and friendly foes of one of California’s top elected officials gather to pay “respect” to that year’s Honoree. Their humorous and edgy crossfire provides insights about the history, present day and future of California politics. The Roast attracts national press attention and has become a Sacramento political institution. Proceeds benefit Capitol Focus and California Center Youth Programs.

Thank you for attending our 2010 California Roast!

The California Center is deeply appreciative of the time, effort and good spirit contributed at the 2010 Roast by our honoree Senate President pro Tempore Steinberg, our Master of Ceremonies Sheila Kuehl, and our Roasters Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker John Perez, Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado and the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy. Their enthusiasm our great audience of over 600 helped us sustain the festive, edgy tone for our bi-partisan event. Please check out our photo gallery that capture highlights from the event!

History of the Roast

The Roast is a festive bi-partisan tradition that began in 1982 to pay tribute to California’s most respected political leaders. The Roast attracts seven hundred or more persons each year including lobbyists and their employers, legislators and their staff, executive branch officials, political and public affairs consultants, friends and supporters of the Roastee, and others. Attendees enjoy the sometimes edgy, but good-natured exchange between the panelists and Roastee, and the institutional history conveyed during those exchanges. Participants are encouraged to set a humorous, but dignified tone (with just a few slips here and there). The best Roasts of the past featured timely insights into the dynamics and personalities affecting the legislative and budget-making and political processes of that moment. The event attracts positive statewide and national media attention for the Roastee.

This Years Honoree:

Assembly Speaker, John A. Perez

John A. Pérez was elected in 2008 to represent the 46th Assembly District, comprising the cities of Maywood, Vernon, Huntington Park as well as the communities of Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, unincorporated East Los Angeles and parts of South Los Angeles. In January 2010, he was elected Speaker of the California Assembly and was sworn in as the 68th Speaker on March 1, 2010.

Growing up in the working class communities of El Sereno and Highland Park, John’s parents taught him the value of hard work and community service. After attending the University of California at Berkeley, he became active in the labor movement, where he spent over 15 years working to create jobs, expand healthcare and protect workers’ rights. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, John served as political director for the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 324, and previously served in a similar position for the California Labor Federation.

John’s commitment to the labor movement was matched by an equal commitment to civic involvement. He has served on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, where he led the effort to mandate a local hire agreement requiring 30% of all major construction jobs to be dedicated to local residents and those in need, providing those individuals with valuable experience and training in skilled professions.

John serves as an elected member of the Democratic National Committee. He has previously served as a board member for the California League of Conservation Voters and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. He was appointed by former Speaker Bob Hertzberg to serve on a blue ribbon panel on Initiative Reform as well as the Voting Modernization Board.

As the first openly gay person of color to be elected to state office in California, John has been a longtime advocate on behalf of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community. He has been especially active in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He has been a leader with AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Latino Coalition against AIDS, and the California Center for Regional Leadership. In recognition of his work, he was appointed by both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush to serve on the Presidents Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

John’s lifetime of fighting for better wages, healthcare and benefits for working families reflects the values with which he was raised, giving him a deep understanding of the daily struggles that so many working families endure just to survive. As Speaker, he is using that experience to focus on solving California’s budget crisis, promote policies that create high-paying, quality jobs in California and implementing real reforms to state government.

http://californiacenter.org/images/uploads/speaker_perez2_thumb.jpg http://californiacenter.org/images/uploads/speaker_perez2_thumb.jpghttp://californiacenter.org/images/uploads/speaker_perez2_thumb.jpg http://californiacenter.org/images/uploads/speaker_perez2_thumb.jpgclass=“align-right”