Background
Nakanishi, Alan was born on March 21, 1940 in Sacramento.
ophthalmologist politician member of the California State Assembly
Nakanishi, Alan was born on March 21, 1940 in Sacramento.
Nakanishi received a B.A. in chemistry from in 1961. He went on to receive a master's degree in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and an M.D. from Loma Linda University. He completed his medical internship at USC Medical Center.
He is currently serving as the Mayor of the City of Lodi in San Joaquin County. He was a Republican Assemblymember from California's 10th State Assembly district, serving from 2002 to 2008. In 2010, Dr. Nakanishi was a candidate for the State Board of Equalization.
At the age of two, Alan Nakanishi and his family were subject to the Japanese American Internment. He and his family were relocated to Tule Lake, CA. At the end of World War II, they moved to Sacramento, CA. To make money while in school, Nakanishi worked picking fruit, and at a cannery. He left after high school, and lived in Napa county, Los Angeles, and Texas before settling in Lodi, CA. Nakanishi was in Texas while serving as a captain in the U.S. Army.
Nakanishi served two years as a Major in the U.S. Army, leading a Surgical Department at McDonald Army Hospital. Since 1971, Nakanishi has practiced medicine in Stockton. He continued practicing in Lodi throughout his time in the State Assembly.
In 2001, Nakanishi was elected to the Lodi City Council, in the Central Valley County of San Joaquin. In 2000, he ran unsuccessfully for the California State Senate and remained on the Lodi City Council. In 2001, he was selected Mayor of Lodi by his fellow Council members.
In 2002, he was elected to the California State Assembly. In 2010, he was elected again to the Lodi City Council. In 2012, he was selected again to serve as Mayor of Lodi by his fellow Council members.
In 2014, he was elected again to the Lodi City Council.
Nakanishi was the first Republican Co-Chair of the Asian-Pacific Islander Joint Legislative Caucus (2005–2008), as well as a member of the Rural Caucus and the Legislative Sporting Caucus.