Steve was born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents. His mother from Guadalajara, Mexico via Tijuana, Mexico and his father from Budapest, Hungary via Tucson, Arizona.

Steve grew up in Huntington Park and Boyle Heights in East and Southeast Los Angeles. He attended Loyola High School of Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA with honors. He continued his education at UCLA in the Masters Program for Latin American Studies with an emphasis in Urban Planning and proceeded to complete 3 years of Ph.D. work in UCLA’s History Department.

Steve taught 7th and 8th grade Social Studies classes as well as a variety of courses at UCLA. With career experience as a journalist and editor, Steve was the former managing editor of the San Fernando Sun Newspaper. There he helped improved its local coverage and helped transition the paper into a new era of its history including the return of local delivery and the introduction of a Spanish language section.

An active member of the San Fernando community, Steve served as the president of the Friends of the San Fernando Library. He was appointed Historical Commissioner for the City of San Fernando in 1999 where he served as chair for several years.He participates and supports a variety of community groups including the San Fernando Kiwanis, San Fernando’s American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, San Fernando Braves, San Fernando Little League and Santa Rosa’s Little League.

Steve was elected to the San Fernando City Council to a four- year term in March 2003 and then re-elected in 2007. His accomplishments and contributions include the development of the 3-acre Heritage Park- the city’s first park in nearly 30 years, pedestrian improvements along Maclay Avenue, nearly 100 units of senior housing and the planning and future development of a bike and walking path along the Pacoima Wash.

Steve has additionally prioritized improving community policing strategies, continuing urban reforestation efforts, improving housing and transportation resources, re-designing/ revitalizing commercial corridors and improving educational opportunities for local youth.

Steve has served as District Director for two California State Assemblymembers and has previously served as a board member for the Coalition for Clean Air. He also spent 3 years as a Director for the Metropolitan Water District.