Martha Escutia

Last updated

Leo Victor Briones
​
(m. 1994)​
Martha Escutia
Martha Escutia, 2013.jpg
Escutia in 2013
Member of the California State Senate
from the 30th district
In office
December 7, 1998 – November 30, 2006 [1]
Children2
Education University of Southern California (BS)
Georgetown University (JD)

Martha M. Escutia (born January 16, 1957) is an American politician and attorney. She served in the California Assembly from 1992 to 1998 and the California Senate from 1998 to 2006.

Contents

Early life and education

Escutia was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. She earned a Bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She also holds certificates in Advanced International Legal Studies relating to Trade and Tariffs from the World Court at The Hague and in Foreign Investment from the National Autonomous University in Mexico City.

Career

Escutia represented California’s 30th District. In the Senate, she chaired the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications (EU&C), as well as the Health and Human Services Committee. She was the first Latina to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee. In the Assembly, she was the first woman to chair the Judiciary Committee. She also became the first woman to lead the 27-member California Legislative Latino Caucus and chaired the California Legislative Women's Caucus.

Escutia authored legislation that established the first low-cost auto insurance program for low-income residents in Los Angeles County, California and San Francisco, California.

She was named "Legislator of the Year" by the California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), [3] received the "Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government" for her work on Children's Environmental Health Protections, and in 1999, she earned the "Legislator of the Year Award" from the California School Boards Association. [4]

In November 2005, the Corona New Primary Center in Bell, California, was renamed the Martha Escutia Primary Center in her honor. [5]

Since 2013, Escutia has served as Vice President for Government Relations at the University of Southern California. [6] [7]

Escutia also serves on the Board for College Futures, [8] a nonprofit that seeks to increase the rate of postsecondary education completion among underserved populations.

As of 2019, Escutia was appointed to the California High Speed Rail Authority Board. [9] The Authority is responsible for the planning, designing, building and operating of the high-speed rail line.

Personal life

Escutia married Leo Victor Briones in 1994. They have two children.

References

  1. ↑ "Record of State Senators 1849–2025, p. 31" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the Senate. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Record of Members of the Assembly 1849–2025, p. 56" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the Senate.
  3. ↑ https://shea.senate.ca.gov/sites/shea.senate.ca.gov/files/hispanic_health_state_legislative_say_2005.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  4. ↑ "Elected Women: 100 Years in California Legislature". California State Library. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Our School". marthapc.lausd.org. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Contact Us | Communities | USC". communities.usc.edu. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Martha Escutia". USC Center for the Political Future. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  8. ↑ "College Futures Board of Directors". College Futures Foundation. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Martha M. Escutia, Board Member". State of California. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
California Assembly
Preceded by
Curtis Tucker
Member of the California Assembly
from the 50th district
1992–1998		Succeeded by
California Senate
Preceded by Member of the California Senate
from the 30th district
1998–2006		Succeeded by


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