ABOUT CARLOS
Born and Raised in East Los Angeles
Carlos León has lived on the Eastside his entire life! In fact, his family has lived in East LA for over 100 years. Carlos is a lifelong Democrat, Union leader, proud father, and lifelong community advocate.
Carlos has been motivated to help others and improve his community since returning from the US Army where he served in the 7th Infantry Division with numerous awards and accolades.
Carlos is running for State Assembly
Because he is tired of empty promises. He believes his life of service to others is what we need in Sacramento, a real difference maker!
Throughout his entire life, Carlos has seen the effects of poverty, drugs, violence, gangs, as well as inequalities in education and opportunity. From an early age, Carlos’ grandmother Nana played a heavy role in the lives of Carlos and his two sisters.
Carlos’ parents suffered from addiction and were involved in local gangs and street life, or la vida loca as it was called.
While Carlos’ mother was able to turn her life around
His father, Richard, spent much of his adult life battling addictions, and in and out of the criminal justice system.
In total, Carlos’ father spent over 20 years in jail. When Richard passed away, here is the inheritance he left Carlos
Carlos’ experiences growing up motivated him to succeed.
Carlos transferred from East LA College to UCLA and continued a tradition of volunteerism he still maintains. While earning his college degree, Carlos began volunteering to deliver food for AIDS patients in hospice care and volunteering for domestic violence hotlines. Carlos also volunteered at domestic violence hotlines and helped veterans in need.
After graduating, Carlos dedicated his life to public service. Carlos worked for two iconic Eastside political power houses, then LA City Council member and beloved LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina, and later with State Senator Gloria Romero. In both positions, Carlos’ work focused on supporting veterans in need.
Carlos later helped lead the labor community services partnership between the United Way and the AFL-CIO where he connected families in need with financial assistance and food banks. Carlos was shocked by the level of poverty in LA, even after decades of promises from Sacramento in Washington.
In 2007, Carlos became a youth probation officer mentoring young people, and nurturing them. Carlos drew from his own experiences, watching his parents, uncles and cousins’ gangs, drugs, and incarceration to motivate incarcerated youth to focus on education to build opportunities for themselves. Carlos also worked to destigmatize mental health and helped incarcerated youth become civically active, registering them to vote and encouraging them to vote.
In this position, Carlos was a member of AFSCME Local 3299 where he eventually became a Shop Steward and Executive Board member.
Carlos is running for State Assembly because of the dire need to improve public safety, to expand youth activities and jobs, as well as to improve public education and help create jobs.
Carlos is a lifelong Democrat, Union Leader, and proud father, who cares deeply about improving the communities he was born and raised in (Assembly District 52).