Legislator of the Year

Overview

Legislator of the Year
CFT honors outstanding California legislators

The CFT names a Legislator of the Year to acknowledge an individual’s extraordinary efforts in the State Capitol on behalf of educators and education. The award is presented at the CFT Convention.

Award Recipients

  • 2021   Assemblymember Rob Bonta, D-Oakland
  • 2019   Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach 
  • 2018   Senator Connie Leyva, D-San Bernadino, and Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego 
  • 2017   Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, and Phil Ting, D-San Francisco
  • 2016   Assemblymember Jose Medina, D-Riverside
  • 2015   Assemblymember Paul Fong, D-San Jose (Award of Appreciation) 
  • 2014   Senator Marty Block, D-San Diego
  • 2013   Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley
  • 2012   Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, and Paul Fong, D-San Jose
  • 2011   Senator Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley
California Teacher CFT Convention

Legislator of the Year: Jose Medina

Many legislators, although they seem good at first, have a “shelf life,” said Community College Council President Jim Mahler, which expires when they stop responding to the people who elected them. Mahler said to combat this by finding your own candidates. Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside, winner of CFT’s Legislator of the Year Award, was just who the union was looking for.