Atwater Village News - blog

Senator Carol Liu (D-La Canada) said she is looking forward to serving residents of the 21^st Senate District, which includes Atwater Village.

“We face enormous challenges,” said Liu, “but I plan to work in partnership with all members of the Legislature and the Governor to move our state forward to achieve education and career opportunity, environmental quality, and economic prosperity for all Californians in the 21^st Century.  It’s time to put partisan bickering aside and seek creative solutions. I’m ready to dig in.”

Liu announced the staff she has selected to help her serve the people of the 21^st District.  Suzanne Reed will be returning as Liu’s Chief of Staff, reprising the role she had in the Assembly.  Reed’s career in public policy spans 38 years.  Among positions she held in the U.S. Senate was Legislative Aide to then-Sen. Joseph Biden.  In California, she was a Commissioner on the California Energy Commission, where she spearheaded nationally recognized programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Prior to joining Liu’s staff in the Assembly, she had a successful career in the private sector.  Since completing her Assembly assignment, Reed has been working on California climate change policy for the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Center for Clean Air Policy.

Liu's District Director will be Tahra Goraya, well-known to the District through her work as Executive Director of Pasadena’s Day One, a community-based coalition working to reduce problems associated with substance abuse through education, alternate activities for youth, and environmental public policy advocacy. Goraya has over 10 years of nonprofit and grassroots experience in the public health and social justice sectors, and most recently headed up a Washington, D.C-based national civil rights organization.

Also staffing Liu in the Capitol will be Robert Oakes, a former journalist and nine-year veteran of the Legislature who served Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) for the last eight years.  Oakes will be Liu’s Legislative Director and Director of Communications.

Rejoining Liu’s District staff is long-time community activist, Lena Kennedy, who has spearheaded Liu’s highly successful annual Cancer Awareness Event for the last eight years.  Kennedy will be organizing special events throughout the 21^st Senate District to bring vital public services, assistance, and educational resources to Liu’s constituents.

Also returning to the District Office is Talin Mangioglu, previously a successful small business owner in the District, who has turned her focus to public service.  Mangioglu will be anchoring the District Office constituent services and intern programs as well as representing the Senator in the field.

Joseph Solis joins the Senator’s Office from the private sector.  A native of Glendale, Joseph served in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from Herbert Hoover high school. A graduate of Saint Leo University in business administration, Joseph also completed the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. He is an active board member with local area nonprofits, We Care for Youth and the Character and Ethics Project.

One of Liu’s first acts in office was to move the 21^st District Office from Pasadena to Glendale, will make the office more centrally located in the District, which extends out to Reseda.  The address is: 710 S. Central Ave, #310, Glendale, CA 91204.  The phone number is 818-409-0400 and the fax is 818-409-1256.

Liu’s Executive Assistant is Malia Cluney, another accomplished Senate veteran, formerly employed by the Senate Rules Committee, who will handle the Senator’s schedule.  Liu’s Capitol Office address is Room 5061, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.  The phone number is 916-651-4021. The fax number is 916-324-7543.