Joseph B. Montoya, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member from 1972 to 1978 and a Senator from 1979 to 1990. The Joseph B. Montoya Papers consist of 12.75 cubic feet of textual records, 39 audiocassette tapes, and 1 audio record reflecting Montoya’s activities during his eighteen-year Assembly and Senate career. The records are organized with his files first, followed by files related to the committees he served on.

Joseph B. Montoya, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member from 1972 to 1978 and a Senator from 1979 to 1990. Montoya was first elected to public office at the age of 28. He served on the La Puente City Council from 1968-1972, was Vice-Mayor 1969-1970, and Mayor 1971-1972. Montoya was elected to the California Legislature in 1972 to represent the 60th Assembly District that included the cities of Bassett, Baldwin Park, City of Industry, El Monte, La Puente, North Whittier, Rosemead, South El Monte, South San Gabriel, West Covina, and Valinda. Montoya then defeated Senate incumbent Alfred Song to represent the 26th Senate District in 1979. The 26th district consisted of the Los Angeles County communities of Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Irwindale, La Puente, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, and San Gabriel. Montoya’s political career ended in 1990 when he was convicted on felony charges of racketeering, extortion, and money laundering. Montoya was one of five legislators caught by the FBI’s vote-selling sting. He was sentenced to serve six and a half years as well as pay restitution. Montoya also served as the Majority Whip in the Assembly from 1973-1978.

13 cubic feet of textual records

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