Fabian Nunez, the California State Assembly Speaker, has been added to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. Nunez takes the second of three Independent Director positions created at U.S. Soccer's 2006 AGM, when the U.S. Soccer Federation's Board of Directors was reduced from 40 to 15. Longtime Goldman Sachs Group partner, Carlos Cordeiro, became the first Independent Director in February and the third will be elected at the 2008 AGM. Nunez (D-46th District) was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002 and sworn in as the State's 66th Speaker in February 2004. For the complete Board of Directors roster and more on Nunez ...

U.S. SOCCER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Sunil K. Gulati
Executive Vice President Mike Edwards
Treasurer Bill Goaziou
Immediate Past President (non-voting) Robert Contiguglia
Athlete Representatives Paul Caligiuri, Peter Vermes, Linda Hamilton
Pro Council Representatives Don Garber, Kevin Payne
Adult Council Representatives Brooks McCormick, Jim Hamilton
Youth Council Representatives Larry Monaco, Mike McDaniel
At Large Representative Burton Haimes
Independent Director Carlos Cordeiro
Independent Director Fabian Nunez
Independent Director TBD
CEO/Secretary General (non-voting) Dan Flynn

Now in his fifth year as Speaker, Nunez has served longer than any other Speaker since Californians adopted term limits in 1990.

"To serve in this capacity is an honor and a privilege," said Nunez, an active soccer player who attended the World Cup in Germany in 2006. "I have been a soccer fan my entire life and look forward to helping contribute to the remarkable growth of U.S. Soccer."

In his time in office, Speaker Nunez has orchestrated several legislative victories and in 2006 he presided over what the San Francisco Chronicle called "...one of the most productive legislative sessions in decades."

During that session the Speaker authored first-in-the-nation legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from California industries, a law which has gone on to become the gold standard for other states. Nunez has testified before Congress in support of national greenhouse gas legislation and was invited to the World Economic Summit in Switzerland earlier year to discuss the law with the world's leaders in business and government.

In addition, Speaker Nunez crafted legislation to raise California's minimum wage to the highest in the nation and worked with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative Republicans to lead Assembly passage of the first on-time, balanced budget in nearly a decade.

In previous legislative sessions, Nunez authored bills to curb pollution, aid small business, help the homeless, discourage predatory lending, improve working conditions for hotel attendants and offer solutions to California's long-term energy needs.

Speaker Nunez was named by Senator Hillary Rodman Clinton as a national campaign co-chair, and this year authored bills that will help boost the availability of alternative fuels. Additionally, his proposal to reform the state's health care system has won support from business, labor and a broad coalition of health reform groups.

Speaker Nunez, 40, earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and education from Pitzer College in Claremont. He resides in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Maria, have three children: Esteban (18), Teresa (17) and Carlos (7).