Bob Huff
Encyclopedia
Robert S. Huff is a U.S.
politician
, who is a Republican
member of the California State Senate
, representing the 29th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles
, Orange
, and San Bernardino
counties. He has served in that body since December 1, 2008 and is the chair of the Republican Caucus.
A resident of Diamond Bar, California
, he served on its City Council from 1995 to 2004 and was Mayor in 1997 and 2001. Huff won the 2004 Assembly election to succeed the term-limited
Bob Pacheco and was reelected in 2006. He won the 2008 election to succeed the term-limited
Bob Margett
for the 29th district in the California State Senate
.
, Huff grew up on his family's farm in the Imperial Valley. Huff attended Westmont College
in Santa Barbara
, where he earned a bachelor's degree
in psychology
, graduating with honors.
Most of his professional and business experience has been in the agricultural industry. Working through the ranks to become the youngest vice president in a grain handling corporation, he became manager-owner of the Ray S. French Company, an independent commodity wholesaler, shortly after he moved his family to Diamond Bar in 1983.
Bob Huff and his wife Mei Mei make their home in Diamond Bar. They have three sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren.
With a focus on transportation issues, Bob Huff was Diamond Bar’s delegate to the Four Corners Transportation Policy Group and was Vice President of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. He was President of the Foothill Transit Executive Board, and founding Chairman and Executive Board Member of the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority (ACE).
Senator Huff serves on the following standing committees: Vice Chair of Budget and Fiscal Review, Vice Chair of Governance and Finance, and member of the committees for Transportation and Housing, Education, and Budget Subcommittee 1 on Education.
In the Assembly from 2004-2008, Bob Huff also held leadership positions of Whip, Republican Caucus Chairman and Vice Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Caucus.
In addition, Senator Huff serves on the Select Committees of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, California Job Creation and Retention, California’s Horse Racing Industry, Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery and High-Speed Rail.
Senator Huff's Sub-Committee assignments include: Budget: Subcommittee 1 on Education, Education: Sustainable School Facilities and Education: Policy Research
Senator Huff has had legislation signed into law guaranteeing more funding for public charter schools. He has also led efforts to continue the Standard Testing and Reporting (STAR) program for second graders and fought for parents' right to choose the best school for their children. Senator Huff has been a leader in expanding school choice for parents and students, including two reauthorizations of the School District of Choice program, the creation of the Open Enrollment Act and the nationally recognized “Parent Trigger” law.
In 2010, Senator Huff had legislation signed into law that protects private after school programs that tutor children in schoolwork, as well as teach foreign language and culture.
One of his proudest accomplishments is getting SB161 signed into law in 2011, which places the health and welfare of California schoolchildren first, by allowing trained volunteers to administer emergency medication to students with epilepsy when they suffer a seizure at school.
Senator Huff was recognized as Legislator of the Year in 2011 by the League of California Cities, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, the California Business Properties Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, California and the Inland Empire Caucus, which serves citizens with disabilities. He was recognized for his efforts to protect local control, his legislative work on behalf of the industrial real estate industry and his tireless efforts to improve the business and jobs climate in California. He was also recognized as the 2011 Job Champion of Anaheim by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and received a received a perfect score in the 2011 California Chamber of Commerce Legislative Scorecard.
Senator Huff was awarded the 2005 Local Distinguished Service Award in Transportation from the American Public Transit Association and the Outstanding Community Leader of 2005 by the Boy Scouts of America
Old Baldy Council
.
In addition, he has received first-rate legislative vote rankings from the California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, California Farm Bureau Federation, and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who is a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
, representing the 29th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, Orange
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, and San Bernardino
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
counties. He has served in that body since December 1, 2008 and is the chair of the Republican Caucus.
A resident of Diamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 55,544 at the 2010 census, down from 56,287 at the 2000 census. It is named after the "diamond over a bar" branding iron registered in 1918 by ranch owner Frederick E...
, he served on its City Council from 1995 to 2004 and was Mayor in 1997 and 2001. Huff won the 2004 Assembly election to succeed the term-limited
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
Bob Pacheco and was reelected in 2006. He won the 2008 election to succeed the term-limited
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
Bob Margett
Bob Margett
Robert G. Margett was a California State Senator until 2008. He represented the 29th Senate District, which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties...
for the 29th district in the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
.
Education and professional life
Born in Calexico, CaliforniaCalexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
, Huff grew up on his family's farm in the Imperial Valley. Huff attended Westmont College
Westmont College
Westmont offers 26 majors, including: alternative major, art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, computer science, economics and business, education program, engineering physics, English, history, European studies, kinesiology, liberal studies, mathematics, modern languages , music,...
in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, where he earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, graduating with honors.
Most of his professional and business experience has been in the agricultural industry. Working through the ranks to become the youngest vice president in a grain handling corporation, he became manager-owner of the Ray S. French Company, an independent commodity wholesaler, shortly after he moved his family to Diamond Bar in 1983.
Bob Huff and his wife Mei Mei make their home in Diamond Bar. They have three sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren.
Community service
Prior to serving on the Diamond Bar City Council, Huff served on the Diamond Bar Planning Commission, the Diamond Bar General Plan Advisory Committee, and was a founding member of the Tres Hermanos Conservation Authority. He is also a member of Walnut Valley Rotary Club and former member of the Diamond Bar Improvement Association and Diamond Bar Chamber of Commerce.With a focus on transportation issues, Bob Huff was Diamond Bar’s delegate to the Four Corners Transportation Policy Group and was Vice President of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. He was President of the Foothill Transit Executive Board, and founding Chairman and Executive Board Member of the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority (ACE).
Legislative leadership
Senator Huff serves as a key leader in the Senate Republican Caucus, holding the position of Republican Caucus Chair and is the primary Senate Republican negotiator for all state budget issues.Senator Huff serves on the following standing committees: Vice Chair of Budget and Fiscal Review, Vice Chair of Governance and Finance, and member of the committees for Transportation and Housing, Education, and Budget Subcommittee 1 on Education.
In the Assembly from 2004-2008, Bob Huff also held leadership positions of Whip, Republican Caucus Chairman and Vice Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Caucus.
Committee membership
Senator Huff serves on the following standing committees: Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Vice Chair of the Governance and Finance Committee and also serves as a member of the Education and Transportation and Housing Committees.In addition, Senator Huff serves on the Select Committees of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, California Job Creation and Retention, California’s Horse Racing Industry, Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery and High-Speed Rail.
Senator Huff's Sub-Committee assignments include: Budget: Subcommittee 1 on Education, Education: Sustainable School Facilities and Education: Policy Research
Legislation
Senator Bob Huff is an experienced businessman and an accomplished legislator who advocates for streamlining government regulations that strangle job creation. He is also known for advocating accountability and reform in our public schools.Senator Huff has had legislation signed into law guaranteeing more funding for public charter schools. He has also led efforts to continue the Standard Testing and Reporting (STAR) program for second graders and fought for parents' right to choose the best school for their children. Senator Huff has been a leader in expanding school choice for parents and students, including two reauthorizations of the School District of Choice program, the creation of the Open Enrollment Act and the nationally recognized “Parent Trigger” law.
In 2010, Senator Huff had legislation signed into law that protects private after school programs that tutor children in schoolwork, as well as teach foreign language and culture.
One of his proudest accomplishments is getting SB161 signed into law in 2011, which places the health and welfare of California schoolchildren first, by allowing trained volunteers to administer emergency medication to students with epilepsy when they suffer a seizure at school.
Rankings, awards and recognition
Senator Huff’s fight for local control and his refusal to accept “business as usual” in Sacramento translated into several high profile awards during the 2011 Legislative Session.Senator Huff was recognized as Legislator of the Year in 2011 by the League of California Cities, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, the California Business Properties Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, California and the Inland Empire Caucus, which serves citizens with disabilities. He was recognized for his efforts to protect local control, his legislative work on behalf of the industrial real estate industry and his tireless efforts to improve the business and jobs climate in California. He was also recognized as the 2011 Job Champion of Anaheim by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and received a received a perfect score in the 2011 California Chamber of Commerce Legislative Scorecard.
Senator Huff was awarded the 2005 Local Distinguished Service Award in Transportation from the American Public Transit Association and the Outstanding Community Leader of 2005 by the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
Old Baldy Council
Scouting in California
Scouting in California has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs related to their environments.-Early history :...
.
In addition, he has received first-rate legislative vote rankings from the California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, California Farm Bureau Federation, and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association.