Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, coauthored this legislation signed last week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Hernandez was a La Puente optometrist before deciding to run for office in 2006, when he beat out then La Puente mayor Renee Chavez, who was hoping to take over her husband Ed Chavez’ seat. Ed Chavez was being termed out.

Hernandez will face off with Victor Saldana in November for the 57th.

Saldana, 38, is a law clerk who unsuccessfully ran for Baldwin Park City Council last year. As of April, Saldana said he had raised under $10,000 and state finance records at that time showed Hernandez had more than $250,000 in his bank account.

More on that race coming soon as we draw closer to Super Tuesday….