Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 18

Abel Guillen is currently serving his second term as a Trustee for the four Peralta Community Colleges - Laney, Merritt, Berkeley and Alameda - which bring hope and education to thousands of young people in the East Bay. As Vice President of an East Bay school finance firm, he has improved educational opportunities for thousands of students across the state. During the last 10 years, he has helped to raise over $2.5 billion to build and modernize California's public schools and community colleges.

The son of a baker and a cook, Abel was the first in his family to graduate from college. He grew up in a working-class Bay Area neighborhood where few people even considered attending college. Abel learned the value of hard work from his parents, and was fortunate to receive a great public education at UC Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor's degree and a master's degree in public policy.

Leadership for California

Every level of government in California + from our schools to city services to state agencies - is facing unprecedented challenges similar to those here in the East Bay. Our state's resources - and budget - must be better connected to increasing employment opportunities, improving education success, reducing poverty and crime, and fostering healthier Californians and environmental sustainability.

Abel Guillen wants to make sure all Californians have the same opportunities he's had. That's why he's running for the Assembly as the best way now to continue his efforts to make a real difference for our young people, working families and the lives of our entire community - and make sure our priorities are represented in Sacramento.

Read more about his priorities: http://www.abelforassembly.com/priorities-and-solutions-california

Reforming our community colleges

First elected to the Peralta Board in 2006, Abel kept his promises by holding Peralta's management more accountable and its operations more transparent through a series of financial reforms and cost-saving measures.

Because our community colleges are on the frontlines of job training in growing industries, Abel has pushed for effective educational programs in green businesses, multimedia, biotech and health care to get our community back to work. He helped to secure over $20 million for career education and green jobs, and expanded access by providing classes for 3,000 more students.

Amidst a wave of state funding cuts, Abel had led collaborations with other local agencies to do more with fewer resources at Peralta. He helped students by obtaining $2 million to build the Peralta Health and Wellness Center, created the Easy Pass partnership with AC Transit that saves each student over $1,000 a year, and secured funding to keep the Children's Center at the College of Alameda open.