Michael Villines
Encyclopedia
Michael N. Villines is a former California State Assembly
man, who served from 2004–2010 representing the 29th district
. The 29th Assembly District consists of Clovis
, Fresno
, Hume Lake, Madera
, Orange Cove
, and Shaver Lake
.
Pete Wilson
, first as an advance representative coordinating the Governor's media appearances, and later as an appointee to the Department of Fish and Game implementing the Governor's legislative and policy agenda. He also served as chief of staff
to former State Senator
Chuck Poochigian, until 1999.
Villines served as chief negotiator for Assembly Republicans, crafting solutions to the critical problems facing California
. He was a member of the "Big 5
" group of legislative leaders that included at the time Governor Schwarzenegger
, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
, Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth
, and Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass
. Final agreements on such important issues as how to balance the budget are reached during "Big 5" meetings.
Villines' leadership was key to the February 2009 Budget Deal, which included large spending cuts and temporary tax increases, that allowed California to reduce its $42 billion budget deficit. He was recognized by members of both political parties for his willingness to pursue a bipartisan solution to rapidly expanding crisis despite the risk to his political career. While the deal was highly unpopular at the time, Villines was awarded with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award
along with fellow legislative leaders Karen Bass
, Dave Cogdill
and Darrell Steinberg
for their role in the budget deal. The Award is the nation's most prestigious honor for elected public servants and recognizes acts that put the good of the public ahead of the individual's interests.
Villines was initially opposed to any tax increases but described his reasoning for the deal during his Profiles in Courage acceptance speech. "Now there were many who argued that doing nothing was the best option – letting the state 'go off the cliff' was the “fiscally responsible” position... For me, there was nothing more fiscally or socially irresponsible than inaction...especially when we knew the facts. I was determined not to let California fail and to the best I could to solve the problem. And so I worked with Dave, Karen, Darrell and Governor Schwarzenneger to craft a budget compromise... But in the end, we believed it was practical, fair, and the only way to get California on the road to recovery...I learned that courage is taking the hard road even when there is an easy way out. And I gained a real understanding of what politics should be – putting the interests of the people ahead of what's easy or best for my career."
.
Villines received the endorsement of San Francisco Chronicle
for the post of Insurance Commissioner and had the follow to say "Villines has shown he can balance competing interests and is willing to take the heat for doing the right thing...The fortitude to do the right thing against immense pressure is a pretty good credential for insurance commissioner, the state officeholder charged with regulating and approving rates for homeowner and auto insurance. " He also received endorsements from the LA Daily News, Modesto Bee, Fresno Bee, Bakersfield Californian and the Merced Sun-Star.
. The bill passed by receiving bipartisan support within the California Assembly and Senate and was praised for its ability to finally address the segment of the population that was unable to obtain health insurance. He is also carrying AB 2561 which creates the California Department of Energy (CDOE) and consolidates within the CDOE fragmented state energy functions and authorities to establish a coordinated body to regulate the state's energy policies.
During his legislative career, Villines has made improving California's business climate, reducing the tax burden on hard-working families and restoring common-sense solutions and accountability to state government his top priorities. He authored several bills to address during his time in the Assembly these issues. He has also been a strong advocate for a cap on general fund spending and public pension reform as solutions to the state's structural budget deficit.
In spring of 2010, he received the John F. Kennedy
Profile in Courage Award
along with three other California Legislators. Villines was named an "Emerging Leader" by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Orange County Register recognized his fiscal discipline stating, "it's good to see somebody, at least, is sticking up for the taxpayers and insisting on a balanced budget."
degree in political science
at California State University, Fresno
.
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
man, who served from 2004–2010 representing the 29th district
California's 29th State Assembly district
California's 29th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Republican Linda Halderman of Fresno.-District profile:Fresno - 44.93%*Auberry*Clovis*Fresno - 48.75%*Friant...
. The 29th Assembly District consists of Clovis
Clovis, California
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
, Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, Hume Lake, Madera
Madera, California
Madera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
, Orange Cove
Orange Cove, California
Orange Cove is a small city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 9,078 at the 2010 census, up from 7,722 at the 2000 census. Almost all of Orange Cove's residents are Hispanic, many of whom are farmers...
, and Shaver Lake
Shaver Lake, California
Shaver Lake is a census-designated place in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 634 at the 2010 census, down from 705 at the 2000 census. Shaver Lake is on the southeast end of the lake of the same name, northeast of New Auberry, at an elevation of 5627 feet . The name...
.
Background
Prior to his election to the Assembly in 2004, Villines served as an aide to former GovernorGovernor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
, first as an advance representative coordinating the Governor's media appearances, and later as an appointee to the Department of Fish and Game implementing the Governor's legislative and policy agenda. He also served as chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to former State Senator
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...
Chuck Poochigian, until 1999.
Election to California Assembly
After building a public relations firm in the Fresno area, Mike Villines was elected to his first political office in the California Assembly in 2004. He received 42.9% of the vote in a Republican primary contested by three candidates and went on to easily defeat his Democrat opponent in the general election with 62.4% of the vote.Republican Leader
Villines was chosen by his colleagues in November 2006 where he served as Republican leader for 2 1/2 years, making him one of the longest serving leaders over the past 25 years (due to terms limits). He succeeded George Plescia of La Jolla. Plescia had succeeded Kevin McCarthy who stepped down to make a successful run for Congress.Villines served as chief negotiator for Assembly Republicans, crafting solutions to the critical problems facing California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was a member of the "Big 5
Big Five (California)
The Big Five is an informal institution of California state government, consisting of the governor, the Assembly speaker, the Assembly minority leader, the Senate president pro tempore, and the Senate minority leader. Members of the Big Five meet in private to negotiate California's state...
" group of legislative leaders that included at the time Governor Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
Darrell Steinberg
Darrell Steven Steinberg is a Democratic politician from Sacramento, California. He is currently serving his second term in the California State Senate, representing the 6th District. He has been the Senate President Pro Tem since 2008...
, Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth
Dennis Hollingsworth
Dennis Clark Hollingsworth is an American politician who represented California's 36th State Senate district, which includes portions of San Diego and Riverside County, from 2002 to 2010. In 2000, Hollingsworth was elected to the Legislature as a member of the Assembly, and in 2002, Hollingsworth...
, and Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass
Karen Bass
Karen Ruth Bass is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to her election to Congress in 2010, she had served as a member of the California State Assembly representing the 47th district since 2004...
. Final agreements on such important issues as how to balance the budget are reached during "Big 5" meetings.
Villines' leadership was key to the February 2009 Budget Deal, which included large spending cuts and temporary tax increases, that allowed California to reduce its $42 billion budget deficit. He was recognized by members of both political parties for his willingness to pursue a bipartisan solution to rapidly expanding crisis despite the risk to his political career. While the deal was highly unpopular at the time, Villines was awarded with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award
Profile in Courage Award
The Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy described in his book Profiles in Courage...
along with fellow legislative leaders Karen Bass
Karen Bass
Karen Ruth Bass is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to her election to Congress in 2010, she had served as a member of the California State Assembly representing the 47th district since 2004...
, Dave Cogdill
Dave Cogdill
David Ellis Cogdill, Sr. is a Republican politician who served as a State Senator from California's 14th State Senate district from December 2006 to December 2010...
and Darrell Steinberg
Darrell Steinberg
Darrell Steven Steinberg is a Democratic politician from Sacramento, California. He is currently serving his second term in the California State Senate, representing the 6th District. He has been the Senate President Pro Tem since 2008...
for their role in the budget deal. The Award is the nation's most prestigious honor for elected public servants and recognizes acts that put the good of the public ahead of the individual's interests.
Villines was initially opposed to any tax increases but described his reasoning for the deal during his Profiles in Courage acceptance speech. "Now there were many who argued that doing nothing was the best option – letting the state 'go off the cliff' was the “fiscally responsible” position... For me, there was nothing more fiscally or socially irresponsible than inaction...especially when we knew the facts. I was determined not to let California fail and to the best I could to solve the problem. And so I worked with Dave, Karen, Darrell and Governor Schwarzenneger to craft a budget compromise... But in the end, we believed it was practical, fair, and the only way to get California on the road to recovery...I learned that courage is taking the hard road even when there is an easy way out. And I gained a real understanding of what politics should be – putting the interests of the people ahead of what's easy or best for my career."
Run for Insurance Commissioner
In 2009, Villines became a candidate for California Insurance Commissioner. The incumbent, Steve Poizner, was leaving the office to run for governor. Villines received the 2010 Republican nomination for Insurance Commissioner over BrianFitzGerald, but lost the general election to the Democratic nominee, fellow Assemblyman Dave JonesDave Jones (politician)
David Evan "Dave" Jones is an American politician. He represented California's 9th assembly district December 2004 through 2011...
.
Villines received the endorsement of San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
for the post of Insurance Commissioner and had the follow to say "Villines has shown he can balance competing interests and is willing to take the heat for doing the right thing...The fortitude to do the right thing against immense pressure is a pretty good credential for insurance commissioner, the state officeholder charged with regulating and approving rates for homeowner and auto insurance. " He also received endorsements from the LA Daily News, Modesto Bee, Fresno Bee, Bakersfield Californian and the Merced Sun-Star.
Priorities and Recognition
Villines authored AB 1887 to create a high-risk pool to allow for health-care coverage for Californians with pre-existing conditions utilizing federal funds directed from the Affordable Health Care for America ActAffordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
. The bill passed by receiving bipartisan support within the California Assembly and Senate and was praised for its ability to finally address the segment of the population that was unable to obtain health insurance. He is also carrying AB 2561 which creates the California Department of Energy (CDOE) and consolidates within the CDOE fragmented state energy functions and authorities to establish a coordinated body to regulate the state's energy policies.
During his legislative career, Villines has made improving California's business climate, reducing the tax burden on hard-working families and restoring common-sense solutions and accountability to state government his top priorities. He authored several bills to address during his time in the Assembly these issues. He has also been a strong advocate for a cap on general fund spending and public pension reform as solutions to the state's structural budget deficit.
In spring of 2010, he received the John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Profile in Courage Award
Profile in Courage Award
The Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy described in his book Profiles in Courage...
along with three other California Legislators. Villines was named an "Emerging Leader" by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Orange County Register recognized his fiscal discipline stating, "it's good to see somebody, at least, is sticking up for the taxpayers and insisting on a balanced budget."
Education
Villines earned a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor 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...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
.