Los Angeles freshman Democrat John A. Perez, who has vowed to tackle "the serious structural issues putting a stranglehold on California government'' and the economy, was sworn in Monday as Assembly speaker.   

The 40-year-old former labor union official, a cousin of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, dropped plans to run for the state Senate and was picked by fellow Assembly Democrats Dec. 10 to succeed Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, as speaker, and officially elected Jan. 7.   

"Growing up there were many occasions when times were tough and my parents sat at the table talking over the painful choices they'd need to make to see us through,'' said Perez, California's first openly gay Assembly speaker. "My parents weren't rich with money, but our home was rich with love, encouragement, hope and opportunity.   

"Our California family is going through similar times, and facing similar challenges,'' he said. "Helping solve this dilemma is our paramount concern right now. We don't have sufficient resources to meet all our needs, but that cannot be an excuse to turn on each other. We must remember that our state is like a big family and for that family to be strong, every person must have the opportunity to succeed.   

"Today, across our state, too many families are sitting around too many tables making too many painful choices. These families must be our priority.''   

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger congratulated Perez, calling him a "great advocate for the people of California.''   

"There is a lot that we can accomplish by working together and I stand committed to partnering with the new speaker in a bipartisan manner to solve our fiscal challenges, protect education, create jobs and improve the lives of all Californians,'' he said.   

Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad, also offered best wishes to Perez.   

"Republicans are encouraged by Speaker Perez's stated desire to make state government more transparent and effective, particularly when it comes to the budget process,'' he said. "In the coming weeks, I stand ready to work with the speaker toward reaching bipartisan consensus on the top priorities of our constituents, including creating a pro-jobs economic climate in California, getting our 2.25 million unemployed back to work and closing our $20.7 billion deficit without raising taxes.''   

Bass is in her final year in the Assembly because of term limits and is heavily favored to be elected to the House seat held by Rep. Diane Watson, D- Los Angeles. Speakers are customarily replaced in their final year in the Assembly. Bass helped recruit Perez to be her successor.   

One factor in Perez's victory over Assemblyman Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, as speaker was that Perez can remain in the Assembly until 2014 while de Leon will be forced to leave in 2012 because of term limits.   

Perez said earlier that "the budget is going to be the major priority for this year,'' but "we can't solve the budget crisis without addressing the serious structural issues putting a stranglehold on California government.''   

"Reform needs to be central to any long term recovery, and I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in implementing those reforms,'' said Perez.   

One change Perez supports is ending the two-thirds requirement for approving a state budget.   

"The reality is that in a state like California, we need to have transparency in government,'' Perez said. "One of those ways we can achieve transparency is by having democratic rule -- a majority of the members of the Legislature being able to make the important decisions that face us as we're dealing with these structural problems.''   

Changing the two-thirds rule would require a vote by two-thirds of each house of the Legislature, then approval by the public.   

Perez was a labor official for 15 years. He spent the seven years before being elected to the Assembly handling political matters for the Orange County office of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents supermarket workers.

"A good deal of my adult (life) has been engaged in fighting to create the best quality jobs we could get for the people of California,'' Perez said. "The way that you do that is creating an environment where both business and workers can thrive. It's got to be a relationship where both are able to succeed.''   

Perez served on the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles Board of Commissioners from 2006-2008, resigning to run for the Assembly.   

Born Sept. 28, 1969, Perez was raised in El Sereno and Highland Park. He became politically active when he was 14 on such issues as funding for community health clinics, immigration, reapportionment and land use.   

Perez was elected in 2008 to represent the 46th Assembly District, which includes Boyle Heights, Little Tokyo, Westlake, Vernon and part of South Los Angeles.   

Perez is also an elected member of the Democratic National Committee. He has served as a board member for the California League of Conservation Voters, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Latino Coalition against AIDS, the California Center for Regional Leadership, and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.