Luis Alejo

Luis Alejo
Chair of Monterey County
In office January 10, 2023 – January 9, 2024
Preceded by	Mary L. Adams
Succeeded by	Glenn Church
Member of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors from the 1st District
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Fernando Armenta
Member of the California State Assembly from the 30th district 28th district (2010–2012)
In office December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2016
Preceded by	Anna Caballero
Succeeded by	Anna Caballero
Mayor of Watsonville, California
In office November 17, 2009 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	Anthony Rivas
Succeeded by	Daniel Dodge
Member of the Watsonville City Council from the 2nd District
In office December 4, 2008 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	Oscar Rios
Succeeded by	Oscar Rios
Personal details
Born	Luis Angel Alejo (1974-03-27) March 27, 1974 Watsonville, California, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA) Harvard University (MEd) University of California Davis (JD)

Luis Angel Alejo (born March 27, 1974) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly representing the 30th Assembly District, encompassing the Pajaro and Salinas valleys. He has served as a supervisor for Monterey County since 2017.

Biography

Early life

Born and raised in Watsonville, Alejo's family came to work in the agricultural fields of the Salinas, Santa Clara and Pajaro Valleys as migrant farmworkers in the 1950s.

Alejo graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with dual bachelor's degrees in political science and Chicano studies, and obtained his master's of education degree from Harvard University in administration, planning and social policy. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall), where he won the "Maggie Schelen" scholarship for public service.

After finishing his graduate and professional studies, Alejo returned to his hometown of Watsonville to work as a legal aid attorney where he championed the rights of working families throughout the Monterey Bay area. He then worked as a staff attorney for the Monterey County Superior Court, where he assisted thousands of self-represented litigants throughout Monterey County who couldn't afford private attorneys. He has also worked as a high school teacher, focusing on "at-risk" children.

Career

Before his election to the State Legislature, Alejo was the mayor of Watsonville, California. He was elected to District 2 of the Watsonville City Council with nearly 80% of the vote and became mayor in November 2009. He had become Vice Mayor in March 2009.

Prior to his public service, Alejo served as a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow where he worked as a legislative aide for Assemblymember Manny Diaz (D-San Jose). He attended the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall), and Harvard University.

Alejo was elected in June 2016 to represent District 1 on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014

California's 30th State Assembly district election, 2014

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Luis Alejo (incumbent)	25,441	58.9
	Republican	Mark Starritt	17,730	41.1
Total votes			43,171	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Luis Alejo (incumbent)	43,431	59.8
	Republican	Mark Starritt	29,187	40.2
Total votes			72,618	100.0
	Democratic hold