State Sen. Jenny Oropeza dead at 53
From staff reports
Press Telegram
10/21/2010
LONG BEACH - The news of state Sen. Jenny Oropeza's death Wednesday night has shocked local and state leaders.
Oropeza, who represents much of Long Beach and the South Bay, died at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, according to a statement from her office. She was 53 years old and is survived by her husband, Tom Mullins.
"She was such a dynamic person," said former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, who served with Oropeza on the Long Beach City Council. "She always was ready to fight for what she believed in and was a strong leader in her district."
The immediate cause of death was not released, but Oropeza had been suffering from a blood clot in her stomach. She was also a cancer survivor.
Oropeza spokesman Ray Sotero said details were expected to be released later today. He said Oropeza had experienced difficulty breathing for much of Wednesday.
"She's gonna be remembered for her passion, for fighting for the little guy, the little gal," Sotero said. "She always put their interests first in legislation."
In August, Oropeza spoke to a Daily Breeze reporter about the blood clot in her abdomen. At that point, she had missed all but one day of the legislative session since May 21 because of her illness.
"I'm happy to report I'm not dying. I am feeling better. I'm extremely bloated right now," she said. "I had no idea in the world that it would have been as lengthy a recovery as it is. It has caused edema. This is a chronic, difficult problem. It's a slow healing process.
The blood clot was discovered in May after Oropeza complained of shortness of breath. Oropeza said it's not known what caused the abdominal blood clot, a condition that can be extremely painful.
Oropeza, D-Long Beach, represents the 28th Senate District, which includes Long Beach, Torrance, Carson, the beach cities and El Segundo.
Her name will remain on the Nov. 2 ballot, in which she faces two challengers, Republican John S. Stammreich and libertarian David Ruskin.
Under California elections law, a candidate who dies this close to the election is still technically considered a candidate.
If Oropeza receives the majority of votes in the Nov. 2 election, she will be considered elected, but the seat will be vacant when the state Senate begins its new term on Dec. 6, according to an official with the California Secretary of State Office.
The governor will then have 14 days to declare a special election, which would take place between 112 and 126 days later.
Oropeza was elected to the state Assembly in 2000 and four years later was diagnosed with liver cancer and underwent surgery. She was declared cancer-free in early 2005.
After serving three terms in the Assembly, Oropeza was elected to the state Senate in 2006.
She has also served on the Long Beach Unified School District board.
`A terrible loss'
O'Neill called Oropeza's death "a tragic shock," and she recalled one of the highlights of Oropeza's career on the council - bringing Cesar Chavez Park to the park-poor 1st District north of downtown.
Oropeza seemed fated for public office, O'Neill said, recalling the politician's election to student body president at Cal State Long Beach.
"I think she got it in her blood at Cal State Long Beach to be in public service," O'Neill said.
In a statement, Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, called Oropeza's death "a terrible loss for Long Beach and for the Legislature."
"Jenny Oropeza was a tireless and a tenacious fighter who left the world a better place than she found it," she added.
Current 1st District Long Beach City Councilman Robert Garcia said he considered Oropeza a mentor and trailblazer - both of them had served as student body president at CSULB before later getting elected to council.
"She was a legend at Cal State Long Beach," Garcia said.
"She was caring, she was loving, she always had a lot of love for the city, and she will be missed," he continued. "I think we all love Jenny for her very kind spirit and she certainly leaves a legacy of advocating for children, women, for people without a voice. ... She was a mentor, a friend and someone who is really irreplaceable."
Mary Stanton, who served with Oropeza on the Long Beach Board of Education, called her a tenacious advocate for education, particularly for the needs of Latino students.
"I always thought if I wanted someone in my corner it was going to be Jenny," said Stanton, who remains on the school board. "She fought for what she thought was right, and she did a good job doing it."
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster released a statement today that reflected the views of many other local leaders: "I am shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Senator Oropeza. She was a Long Beach trailblazer who served many years of dedicated public service to our city as a school board member, a councilmember, Assemblymember and Senator. Our thoughts and prayers are with Senator Oropeza's family and friends."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he and First Lady Maria Shriver were "deeply saddened" to learn of Oropeza's death, adding that Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in her honor.
"She was a true public servant who positively impacted the lives of all Californians," he said in a statement. "Jenny was a champion for improving public health and her leadership will be missed.
"As she battled her own health issues, she remained dedicated to her constituents by fighting to improve the environment, transportation, cancer prevention and the lives of veterans," he added.
Oropeza's brush with cancer prompted her to author several related bills aimed at reducing pollution around the Port of Los Angeles, as well as to fight for state funding for mammograms for low-income women.
In Oropeza's words
Oropeza told the Press-Telegram on Oct. 9 - an interview that may have been the last before her death for an article that had been planned for publication Friday - that she regretted that her next term would be her last because of term limits.
"I really love the work," she said.
Oropeza said she was proud of legislation she had pushed during her three terms in the Assembly and her first term as a senator, including getting smoking banned in parking garages, stairwells and elevators. She also got a law passed that prohibits smoking in vehicles when children are present.
Her proposal to ban smoking in state-owned parks and beaches passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the governor.
"Smoking has been a major issue for me," she said.
Oropeza also said she fought to have plans approved for an extension of the Metro Green Line to LAX.
"Transportation is very important to me," she said.
