Cherina Kleven

Cherina Kleven grew up in Las Vegas, graduated from Las Vegas High School, attended UNLV and CSN and raised here family there. This year she and her husband David will celebrate 31 years of marriage and are proud parents of three children, Stephanie, Elliott and Jennifer. Cherina recently retired with 20 years of service as a Las Vegas Firefighter. She set a number of firsts as a female and Asian-American during herservice with the Las Vegas Fire Department.

Cherina was active in her profession and became the first female elected to the Executive Board of the Las Vegas Firefighters Benefit Association in 1991. By 1995 she was the first female elected to the Executive Board of IAFF Local 1285. Popular and respected by her fellow firefighters, she became the first female elected to be the President of the Las Vegas Firefighters Benefit Association in 1997. She was re-elected in 1998.

In 1999 Cherina established the Advance Driver Train-the-Trainer Team and developed the Driver Instructor Training course for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. The program was successful in creating better safety for both the firefighters and the general public as fire vehicles responded more quickly to fires and emergency calls.

Cherina set another personal and historic first in 2001 by becoming the first female fire chief officer and first Asian-American fire chief officer in the history of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. When she retired in 2009, she was the first and only female fire chief officer and first Asian-American fire chief officer in the city's history. More than that, Cherina retired as the highest Asian-American female fire chief officer in the United States. Since retiring she has doubled her community work and is active in a wide number of civic and charitable programs.

Cherina is running to be the democratic candidate for State Assembly District 15. To learn more about her, visit her website at www.cherinakleven.com