|
Chris Holden Biography
Born July 19, 1960, Chris Holden has lived his entire life in
the City of Pasadena. Chris graduated from Pasadena High School in 1978, where
he was senior class president and a member of the two-time California
Interscholastic Federation 4-A high school basketball championship team. Chris
went on to San Diego State University where he played basketball for four years
and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in business with an emphasis on marketing.
After college, Chris Holden moved back to Pasadena. Concerned
about the state of his community, he decided to run for City Council. At age 24,
Chris, the son of former Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden, entered the
political world. The campaign ended with the incumbent barely slipping past the
spirited Holden. Undaunted, Holden stayed active and visible. Four years later,
he was elected and has served on the Pasadena City Council for over 15 years.
From May 1997 to May 1999, Holden became the first African American male to
serve the City as Mayor, and prepared a plan to lead the community into the next
century. His accomplishments include the creation of a living wage ordinance,
charter reform (creating an elected Mayor and compensation for Councilmembers),
Utility Deregulation, redevelopment of the City's civic center, and chair of the
Charter Reform Task Force for schools.
He lives in Pasadena with his wife, Melanie, his four
children: Nicholas, Alexander, Austin, Mariah, and his stepson, Noah.
As the champion of Pasadena’s slumlord ordinance and
drug-free zones, Holden has regional interests as well, serving as an officer on
the Burbank Airport Authority.
"Hard work and commitment to improving the
quality of my community is what makes public service worthwhile. The seat I
occupy belongs to the people of Pasadena, it’s a privilege to give back to a
city my family and I love."
|
