Before serving in the California State Senate, Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) was a member of the State Assembly. (photo courtesy of anthonyportantino.com)

California Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) came to California with the dream that brings so many to Los Angeles, but after years of working in the film and television industry, primarily in art direction, Portantino heeded the call to become a civil servant. Now, after more than two decades in politics, Portantino is making a move into the national sphere, with an eye on representing the 30th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I think this is the time in our country where you have to serve,” Portantino said. “The bad people make it so ugly that the good people go home. The bad people win. And we’ve seen democracy threats, seen foundational issues being rolled back – choice, voting rights, core value issues. It’s almost like they want to erase the 20th century and the progress that was made. And so, I think this is the time that you have to step up and bring your perspective to the table. I’m an even keel kind of person. I’m proud of my values and my opinions and my perspective, but I’m also somebody who knows how to get things done … I’ve been very effective in Sacramento and think I can be effective in Washington. I can’t not seize this moment when our country needs good people.”

Previously, Portantino served for seven years on the La Cañada Flintridge City Council. He then represented the 44th District in the California State Assembly. In 2016, he was elected to the California Senate in the 25th District.

Where other candidates might point to large-scale goals as U.S. congressional representatives, Portantino believes that he will be able to take what he sees as effective, measurable change to the House. He points to his record in the Assembly and the California Senate.

“This year, the governor is tackling mental health first aid – training for school folks to know the warning signs of suicide. That was a three-year effort,” he said. “Last year, I was able to get an expansion of autism coverage done through the legislature. That was a six-year effort. It was something that the health plan had opposed for six years. Gov. [Jerry] Brown vetoed it … three times, Gov. [Gavin] Newsom vetoed it twice, but I put the administration’s chief medical folks in the room with my medical folks pushing the issue, and we were able to work out a compromise to get it through the system.”

Portantino, who said he is dyslexic, has often made students and education the focus of his political efforts. In overcoming his own disability, Portantino was able to write three novels during the pandemic.

“We’re the only state in the country that has embraced the science behind school start time allowing teenagers to sleep in,” he said. “And that required significant bipartisan support to get that through. And it’s changed the education dynamics. And we know from 35 years of research that test scores are going to go up and suicide is going to go down. And so, I’ve done heavy lifting on significant policy issues that affect people, that affect families, that affect kids.”

Portantino said that as a freshman congressman, he knows that he would need to have tangible, realistic objectives to make change for his constituents.

“I used to chair the education budget subcommittee, and one of the disparities in California Education is the impact on special education – that we get about 30¢ on the dollar of our special education funds,” he said. “And so, the allocation formula for special education funding is unfair and detrimental. [So, one of my goals is to] change the formula and make sure that California special education students get the money they deserve.”

Portantino was responsible for getting dyslexia screenings into the California education budget, although his name was dropped from the bill. He said when the governor’s staff called and made sure he was OK with his name not being attached to the legislation, he said, “If it’s in the budget, first graders get help. That’s far more important than having a bill with my name on it.”

While a member of the Assembly, Portantino was able to get sensible gun control passed, at a time before the issue had widespread support throughout the state. He picked up a bill that banned the open carrying of firearms and got it to the governor’s desk.

“I’m not reacting to other people, I’m leading from my values and getting things done,” he said. Portantino also said he believes he can make significant change with gun legislation, as well.

“President [Joe] Biden talks about the importance for safe storage of firearms … What he’s talking about is California’s safe storage law that I wrote. So, I have [a] portfolio and experience on that issue. To me, making sure that guns are safely stored and kept out of the wrong hands is not a partisan issue. When we say lock your car, that’s common sense. So, why should locking your gun not be common sense. If your 13 year old takes your car on a joyride and runs into your neighbor’s garage, they’re going to hold you responsible for giving the keys to the 13 year old. It’s the same thing with your weapon. When 67% of the shooters get the weapon from home … we’re going to hold [the gun owner] responsible for what happens with your weapon and if it falls into the wrong hands. That shouldn’t be partisan. That’s common sense.”

Additionally, Portantino pointed to effective changes he’s made in getting film and television production back to Los Angeles County through tax credits, and he said that he is a supporter of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s initiatives to get the homeless population housed.

“We’re going to actually help people get into the system where we can be more proactive in shepherding people from the street, from homelessness, into transitional housing, into drug treatment, into behavioral health treatment,” he said. “And so, the governor has created the system, he’s funding the system, and we’re changing the law to allow us to have more authority in essence to help people they need. Leaving people on the street is not progressive, helping people into the system is progressive.”

Portantino noted that he is running for a seat being vacated by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), who he praised as one of California’s most effective leaders.

“I like the poetry that I follow Adam,” he said. “Adam had my seat as state senator before he became the congressman. So, I liked the poetry that I followed him to Sacramento, and I’d be blessed and honored to follow him to Washington.”

For information, visit anthonyportantino.com.