Fabian Núñez recently joined Mercury Public Affairs as a Partner in the firm’s growing California operation. Mr. Núñez is the former California Assembly Speaker and one of the country’s most dynamic Democratic leaders. Recognized for his unique ability to lead and find bi-partisan solutions to complex public policy challenges, Mr. Núñez was named “Legislator of the Year” in 2007 by Governing Magazine. He authored AB 32, landmark climate change legislation that has become a blueprint for other states and the U.S. Congress in addressing environmental challenges.
As Speaker, Mr. Núñez oversaw an annual Assembly budget of approximately $150 million with 1100 employees in over 103 offices statewide. He was also the Assembly’s lead negotiator on the California state budget, responsible for producing four state budgets, which ranged as high as $103 billion.
From 2000-2002, Mr. Núñez was government affairs director for the Los Angeles Unified School District. In this capacity, he tackled a broad range of education issues and secured millions of dollars in funding for school construction projects, children's health insurance, and low-performing schools. Prior to that, from 1996 to 2000, Núñez served as political director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.