Brian Fernandez (politician)
American politician (born 1977)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Fernandez is an American politician serving as a member of the Arizona Senate for the 23rd legislative district. He previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives for the 4th legislative district beginning in 2021, after being appointed to the seat vacated by his mother, Charlene Fernandez, who resigned to become Director of Rural Development for the United States Department of Agriculture.[2] He is a member of the Democratic Party.[3]
Brian Fernandez | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Arizona Senate from the 23rd district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle Ugenti-Rita |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 4th district | |
| In office November 23, 2021 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Charlene Fernandez |
| Succeeded by | Laura Terech |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 23, 1977[1][2] |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Arizona State University (BA) |
Early life and education
Fernandez was born in Yuma, Arizona to Sergio and Charlene Fernandez.[3] He attended Yuma High School[citation needed] and graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree.[3]
Career
Fernandez volunteered on the political campaigns of former Governor Janet Napolitano and U.S. Representatives Raúl Grijalva and Ed Pastor.[3] He also worked for U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan and the Congressional Black Caucus.[3]
Fernandez later co-founded Symfodium, a company building customer relationship management software for members of Congress.[2] He also founded Team Start, a software startup operating in Arizona and Mexico City.[citation needed]
Political career
Arizona House of Representatives
In November 2021, his mother, Arizona House Democratic Leader Charlene Fernandez, resigned to take a position at the United States Department of Agriculture.[2] On November 22, 2021, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors appointed Brian Fernandez to complete her term representing the 4th Legislative District.[3] During his tenure, he served on the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.[4]
Arizona Senate
Fernandez ran for the seat left open by the retirement of Senator Lisa Otondo.[citation needed] He was uncontested in the primary and won the general election by over 7 points against the Republican candidate Gary Snyder.[citation needed]
Fernandez was appointed to the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Environment, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Natural Resources and Water and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.[citation needed]
Governor Katie Hobbs appointed Fernandez to the Governor’s Independent Prison Oversight Commission.[citation needed]
Arizona Legislative Career
At a Yuma town hall in September 2022, Senator Sine Kerr credited Fernandez for securing $5 million in funding for the Northern Arizona University Yuma campus to expand bachelor’s degree programs. She also praised his work to obtain a $35 million expansion and modernization project for Cesar Chavez Boulevard in San Luis.[5]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brian Fernandez | 42,658 | 53.82 | ||
| Republican | Michelle Altherr | 36,602 | 46.18 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brian Fernandez | 6,943 | 60.35 | ||
| Democratic | Jesus Lugo, Jr. | 4,562 | 39.65 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brian Fernandez | 29,175 | 53.7 | ||
| Republican | Gary Snyder | 25,194 | 46.3 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brian Fernandez | 13,365 | 100 | ||