| Independent, Vice Presidential Nominee Born: 1965 Age: (43) Hometown: McAllen, Texas Education: Columbia College, Columbia University, BA 1987 Stanford University, Stanford Law, JD 1990 Religion: TBD Married: TBD Children: TBD Work Experience: Public Defender (San Francisco, CA) - 1991 to 2000 San Francisco Board of Supervisors - 2000 to 2004 Attorney - 2005 to current *Ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of San Francisco - 2003 Best Known: For having led the effort to implement Instant Run-off Voting, also known as Rank Choice Voting, in San Francisco, where it has been successfully implemented to obtain a majority outcome without the need for costly run-off elections. (It is often promoted as a solution to the spoiler claim.) Additionally, Gonzalez fought to create a minimum wage in San Francisco which includes a mechanism for yearly cost of living adjustments. (Considered the highest in the country, currently the wage is $9.36 per hour) In 2003 Gonzalez was elected president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This was particularly noteworthy as he was the sole Green Party member. He was awarded the Premio Bert Corona by the California Mexican-American Political Association in 2004 and has given numerous public addresses including the Commencement Address at the San Francisco Law School in 2003; The Raven Lecture at Boalt Law School in 2004; and the Commencement Address at New College of California Law School in 2005. |