40 Under Forty: Joe Pradetto

Legislative Assistant, Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit

Kathy Strong 40 under Forty 2014

 

Joe Pradetto
Legislative Assistant, Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit
Age: 28

 

Joe Pradetto didn’t plan to work in politics after graduating from college.

“My grandfather said, ‘There is always money in casinos and government,’ ” says Pradetto, who went on immediately to begin an internship with then–Assemblyman John Benoit.

“He was in the middle of a big race for state Senate. Later, when a staff position opened up, he offered me a spot.”

On Benoit’s staff for five years now, Pradetto finds himself always driven to move forward and improve.

“I love what Steve Jobs said: ‘Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use,’ ” says Pradetto, the married father of one young daughter. “I refuse to live in a world by the rules made up by other people without my participation.”

Someday, the legislative assistant sees himself as the Riverside County chief executive officer.

“Everything I do now, I do to set me on course to accomplish this goal.”

 

VIDEO: A longtime resident of Riverside, Joe Pradetto says his job allowed him to discover the valley.