Full Biography for James J. Mangia

Jim Mangia is an independent candidate for Lt. Governor running on the Reform Party line. A seasoned community activist, Mangia has been involved in some 20 electoral campaigns on behalf of independent candidates running for every level of office: from city council to county commissioner, from Governor to President of the United States.

Twice an independent candidate himself -- US Congress in '86 and San Francisco Board of Supervisors in '90 -- Mangia has worked tirelessly to build a major third party in California and nationally, since the early 80s.

A founding member of the Reform Party, Jim Mangia led the drive to register thousands of Californians into the Reform Party, primarily from inner city communities.

He was elected Secretary of the Reform Party of California in 1995 and was unanimously elected national Secretary of the Reform Party in 1997.

Mangia is the Executive Director of a free medical and dental clinic for children in south central Los Angeles. The clinic provides free medical and dental services to over 10,000 children each year. He is a professional grantwriter who raises millions of dollars each year for non-profit organizations and charities. He is currently the Development Director for St. John's Episcopal Church Community Service Programs in south central Los Angeles, which includes a food bank for poor families, an after-school program, and a housing program for the mentally ill.

"The Reform Party is on the verge of clinching its goal of an established party, in part through the successful alliance of several different third party movements. From the standpoint of building an independent party, people like activist Jim Mangia will prove as important as Perot."

Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 11, 1996