Melahat Rafiei Endorses Nava
California Desk
June 25, 2009
Orange County - Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) announced today that he has been endorsed by Melahat Rafiei for California Attorney General.
"Pedro Nava is the most qualified person to serve as California´s next Attorney General. During Pedro Nava´s career as a prosecutor, California Coastal Commissioner and a law maker, he has fought to protect consumer rights, the environment and make sure that all California families are safe in their neighborhoods," said Rafiei. "Pedro Nava represents the ideals and values of all Californians. His leadership, innovation and vision addressing California´s most important challenges make him the best choice to be the next Attorney General and that is why I am endorsing him."
"I am honored to have the endorsement and confidence of Ms. Rafiei. As an Iranian-American, her life and her family´s story is truly an inspiration to me and represents all that is great about what the United States and especially what California represents to the rest of the world. I am proud to have her support," said Nava. "I am sure that I can speak for many Californians that we stand in solidarity with the Iranian people that seek to have their votes count and voices heard."
Ms. Melahat Rafiei is a well respected leader in Orange County Democratic activism. Melahat is also a board member of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties (C-4 board). In 2007, Ms. Rafiei received the JFK, Jr. Award from the California Democratic Party, for service to the Party.
In the spring of 1983, at the age of 5 years old, Melahat and her family fled her homeland of Iran with her mother, father and two siblings. With little more than the clothes on their backs, they traveled through-out the Middle East. After two treacherous months on the run in countries like Pakistan and Israel, they were granted political asylum by the United States through the American embassy in Rome, Italy.
On May 12, 1983, they landed in San Jose, California. The family had less than $500 cash and nowhere to go. Like so many new Americans before them, through hard work and determination, Melahat´s parents built a very good life for their family. Her parents now own a home in Orange County, California; all of their children have graduated from college and are successful in their chosen fields. In short, her family has lived the American Dream and built a platform for us to achieve even more.
Melahat became a U.S. Citizen in 1990. She cast her first vote for the Clinton/Gore ticket in 1996 and has been voting in every election ever since. She currently lives in Long Beach.
In 2001, Melahat graduated from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a B.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis in Law and Society. She was on her way to becoming a bio-ethicist when she was stopped in her tracks. After hearing Gov. Howard Dean´s cry for change in 2003, she could no longer deny her affinity for politics and got involved in his campaign.
Ms. Rafiei also worked for a non-partisan organization based in Washington DC, the National Iranian-American Council (NIAC). NIAC´s objective is to get Iranian-Americans involved and engaged in American civic life. It is a cause that is very important to her.
Nava a former prosecutor in Fresno and Santa Barbara Counties, recently launched his campaign for California Attorney General. He encourages everyone to visit his website to learn more about joining his campaign, the issues, to sign-up for updates and to contribute at www.PedroNava.com.
Nava can also be found on line at the following:
Twitter -- http://Twitter.com/PedroNava
Facebook -- http://www.Facebook.com/profile.php?id=1552493911&ref=profile
YouTube -- http://www.YouTube.com/user/PedroNava2010.
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