Nathan Fletcher Candidate For Mayor at the City Club Of San Diego

• published: 03 Nov 2013
• views: 276

Nathan Fletcher is a Democrat, family man, business executive, educator, news commentator, former California Assemblyman, and a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Fletcher currently serves as a senior director for Qualcomm Inc. In this capacity, Fletcher focuses on innovative ways to use wireless mobile technology to transform the lives of underserved people in emerging economies, including public-private partnerships and other global initiatives. He also teaches a Political Science course at the University of California, San Diego where he engages students in thoughtful debate and discussion on local, statewide, national, and global issues, and serves as a news analyst Fox 5 San Diego and columnist for San Diego Magazine. During Fletcher's tenure as a State Assemblyman representing California's 75th District, he drafted Chelsea's Law—landmark legislation that reformed the way California deals with violent sexual predators who target children. This comprehensive bill includes a true life without parole sentencing option for the most serious first-time offenders. In addition to Chelsea's Law, Fletcher authored more than 30 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law, including bills relating to veterans, job creation, water infrastructure, pension reform, modernization of state government, health care, and public safety. Fletcher was consistently rated one of the most effective legislators in California and has been honored as Legislator of the Year by groups as diverse as BIOCOM, Tech America, Veterans of Foreign War, Crime Victims United, the Black Chamber of Commerce, and many others. In addition to his work in California, Fletcher has been a leader abroad. He is a champion for the democratic process and has spent time abroad working with philanthropic non-governmental organizations to build and improve democracies 8,000 miles away in Myanmar, East Timor, Cambodia, and Serbia. Fletcher has also participated in international delegation trips to foster relationships and strengthen cultural ties, notably working with Nobel Prize recipient Aung An Suu Kyi and other leaders. These trips also include visits to Mexico, China, and Korea focused on relationship building, personal visits with top leaders like Mexican President Calderon, and engagement with businesses abroad looking to expand their presence in America.Before his election to the California State Legislature Fletcher served honorably in the United States military. From 2004-2007, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Specialist. In 2004, Fletcher spent eight months in the Sunni Triangle region of Iraq. Among the awards he received for this tour are the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" for valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal. On his last deployment, he served throughout the Horn of Africa region traveling throughout Eastern Africa and the Near East. For this duty he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Fletcher is also a recipient of additional military awards including the Benton R. Montgomery Award for Excellence and the Walter Morris Honor Graduate Award. He is also a graduate of the US Army Airborne Course and Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. Fletcher is a tireless advocate for America's veterans and is a member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As an appointed member of the San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council, Fletcher provided a strong voice for the newly returned veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.Fletcher lends his time and talent to numerous philanthropic organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Historical Society, the Community Advisory Council of Voices for Children, the San Diego Regional Advisory Council of the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, and as a member of the Statewide Leadership Council of the Public Policy Institute of California.A frequent commentator, public speaker, and tireless advocate for the voiceless, Fletcher has appeared on MSNBC's Hardball, CNN, The Today Show, Larry King Live, and Dr. Phil and has been quoted in national print publications such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and many others.Fletcher is an Ironman Triathlete, marathon runner, and an avid outdoorsman who enjoys surfing, alpine mountaineering, and mountain biking. He is a graduate of California Baptist University, where he was a Presidential Merit Scholar and member of the CBU baseball team.