• BC-CNS-Lawmaker Profile-Gallego, 250
• Mugshot available (thumbnail below)
• Multimedia: YouTube video

NOTE: This is one of a series of biographical sketches Cronkite News Service is producing about new members of the Arizona State Legislature. Each follows this format and includes a mugshot and video.

_ Name: Ruben Gallego

_ Chamber: House of Representatives

_ Party: Democrat

_ Profession: Business owner; public affairs director, Southwest Ambulance.

_ Hometown: Phoenix

_ Legislative District: No. 16, which covers much of south Phoenix and stretches into Tempe and Guadalupe.

_ Committee Assignments: Agriculture and Water; Military Affairs and Public Safety; Ways and Means.

_ Previous or Current Elected Offices: None.

_ Highlights of Community Involvement: Children’s Museum of Phoenix; Valley Citizen League; The American Legion.

_ Why He Ran: “When state shared revenue was going to be cut I spoke to a couple legislators, both Democratic and Republican, and they just did not understand what they were about to do … That really angered me.”

_ His Focus: “My focus as a legislator is going to be to try to create more jobs, prevent cuts to education, prevent cuts to health care and, of course, prevent cuts to the state shared revenue program.”

_ A Bill: Signed on as a primary sponsor of HB 2410, which would reduce the requirements for honorably discharged veterans to qualify for in-state tuition, requiring only evidence of intent to become a resident such as an Arizona driver’s license, vehicle registration or voter registration.

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Reporting by Alyson Zepeda, Cronkite News Service

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Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix