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Criminal prosecutor, small business leader, and community volunteer…As chairman of the San Diego County Crime Commission he has earned the praise of law enforcement and the gratitude of crime victims and small business leaders.
In 1979, in search for freedom and better opportunities, Sam and Majida Arabo immigrated to San Diego from Baghdad, Iraq. Auday is the oldest of five and his family is a well-respected member of the Christian Chaldean community in San Diego County.
Auday's first career was in the retail grocery business. He was only10 years old, but he began accompanying his father and grandfather to work at Wrigleys Supermarket, and over the years was able to learn the retail business from every angle.
As a life long San Diegan, Auday grew up in Spring Valley and then graduated from Valhalla High School and Grossmont Junior College before transferring to San Diego State University where he graduated Magna cum Laude.
After graduation he was offered a great opportunity and took his first job as a Legislative Correspondent in Washington D.C for a Member of Congress. He worked in our Nation's Capitol and received a valuable education in constituent service, legislation, and what counts the most, the people.
This experience awakened in Auday a desire for public service and he decided to further his education. He returned to San Diego and attended California Western School of Law. He received awards for his academic achievement, including the prestigious Tammie L. Harris Memorial Award for his dedication to the community, leadership and commitment to diversity in the legal profession. Diversity has always been a core belief for Auday, which he exemplified by working closely with La Raza Lawyers, the Persian/Middle Eastern Law Students Association, Pan Asian Student Bar Association and the Earl B. Gilliam Society. Auday is currently a Member of the San Diego County Bar Association.
After being admitted to the California Bar, Auday served as a criminal prosecutor for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. He prosecuted cases of domestic violence, drunk driving, felony drug charges and more. He worked briefly with renowned DNA expert, now Superior Court Judge, George "Woody" Clarke in the District Attorney's DNA Project and earned the praise of his boss, then-Assistant District Attorney Greg Thompson.
In 2003 Auday was asked to return to his roots—in retail business and community service—and to take on an important leadership post, he accepted and became President and CEO of the Neighborhood Market Association (previously known as California Independent Grocers & Convenience Stores). It proved a wise choice, as he was able to accomplish a merger between the California Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores and the California Beverage Merchants, creating the largest independent grocers association on the West Coast.
Throughout his career, Auday has remained committed to the community and has volunteered countless hours to the following organizations as a Board Member for the San Diego County Crime Commission, City of San Diego Small Business Advisory Board, Community Youth Athletic Center, State of Cal WIC Grocery Advisory Board, and, State of Cal EDD Small Business Advisory Board.
Then, last year, Auday's father died. He was devastated by the loss. The elder Arabo had been father, friend and mentor. The loss caused Auday to reflect on his future and he decided to put his knowledge and life experience to work to serve the public in a new way. Today he is a Democratic Candidate for the 78th Assembly District.
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