Anthony Portantino, who for the past six years has represented La Cañada Flintridge in the state Assembly, enters this holiday season with a new task: Figure out what to do next.
Portantino’s job ended officially on Dec. 1, when the new legislative year began. Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D- Silver Lake) now represents La Cañada, while new Assemblyman Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) represents other parts of Portantino’s old district.
At Zeli Coffee Bar in La Cañada on Tuesday, Portantino said that with his mother in his native New Jersey facing declining health and his youngest daughter, Bella, growing up, he’s grateful for the chance to step back.
“I think the good news is I get to go home,” Portantino said. “My daughter is 11, and for six years of her life I’ve been out of the house. And I’ve only got one mom.”
Yet Portantino doesn’t plan on staying out of government for long, and is looking to find a position involving public policy and government reform.