Newly-elected Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, was sworn into her new position as the representative for State Assembly District 38 (AD-38) on Monday.

Normally, incoming assembly members would be sworn in on the Assembly Floor with their family members in attendance. This year, assembly members were sworn in on the stadium floor of the Golden 1 Center, home to the Sacramento Kings’ NBA team, partially chosen because of the extra space and better air filtration it offered compared to the official chambers.

“I think it went as well as could be expected in this COVID world. I don’t think it’s what any member of any political party wanted, but it’s what we need to do to organize this next session,” said Valladares.

Several other Santa Clarita Valley lawmakers, including Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, Senator Henry Stearn, D-Canoga Park and Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, were also sworn into office.

And it’s official … a new Senate session. pic.twitter.com/LG0xlygRZE

— Scott Wilk (@ScottWilkCA) December 7, 2020

Valladares defeated fellow Republican Lucie Volotzky, earning over 149,000 votes as opposed to Volotzky, who received less than 47,000. This placed Valladares with an estimated 52% larger share of the total vote.

Over the last two weeks, Valladares has been working with the office of current Assemblywoman Christy Smith to ensure a smooth transition of power and to provide the best service to constituents.

See Related: Suzette Valladares Prepares For Swearing-In Ceremony ‘Unlike Any Other’

Valladares noted that one of her first priorities as a lawmaker is focused on Employment Development Department (EDD) services. During the major economic downturn caused by the pandemic, millions of Californians have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and thousands of those have not been able to receive their EDD checks.

“There’s a lot of community members for whom EDD is not working, and we need to be doing whatever we can to put food and the table and keep the lights on for them,” she said.

Valladares introduced two bills, Assembly Bill (AB) 90 and AB 91, on her first day in office.

AB 90 protects vulnerable foster youth from identity theft by extending existing credit freeze protections up to 18 years old. According to recent studies, identity theft among foster youth is 38 times higher than it is for California’s general population.

AB 91 reduces state license fees for small and micro-businesses. The fee reduction will be a welcome reprieve to businesses that have borne the brunt of the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Valladares and her team are ready and willing to begin working for constituents in the 38th district, and phone lines are open to members of the community, she said.

Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares

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