Rick Keene
Encyclopedia
Richard J. "Rick" Keene was a Republican candidate for California's 4th State Senate district
. Previously, Keene served in the California State Assembly
representing the 3rd district
from 2002 until he was termed out
in 2008. Prior to his service in the Assembly, Keene served on the Chico
City Council from 1994 until 2002, and as mayor in 1996. Prior to his election to the Legislature he was an attorney
in Chico who operated a small general law practice and specialized in criminal defense
, workers' compensation
, and personal injury law
.
, Marysville
, Grass Valley
, and Truckee
.
Chosen as Assistant Republican Leader 10 months after being first elected, Keene served as principal consultant to successive Republican Leaders on major policy issues and political strategy. He was also selected to be lead Republican on Budget and also served on the Natural Resources Committee, Utilities and Commerce Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the legislature's watchdog committee.
Since his Chico City Council days, Keene has remained firmly committed to fiscal responsibility and constantly fought to reduce taxes and wasteful spending. While in the Assembly, he focused much of his time and effort on issues of great importance to the people of the North State, namely the State Budget, Workers’ Compensation Reform and addressing the State’s dilapidated infrastructure, including working to prevent failing levees in the North State and negotiating to construct new water storage.
and raised in Hayfork
, a small community in Trinity County
. Keene previously worked in many vocations in his life. He has set chokers in a logging operation, driven a forklift at a nut processing plant and, for 10 years, worked at UPS. Prior to becoming a member of the Assembly, he served the community for 15 years as an attorney at his small law firm in Chico.
Keene worked his way through college and law school as a UPS driver, graduating from CSU, Chico in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies. He then went on to complete a Juris Doctorate Degree from Cal Northern School of Law
in 1989. He is currently working as a consultant on land use and development.
Keene and his family have been residents of Butte County
for more than 33 years. He and his wife, Janice, have five children: Erin, Christopher, Rosie, Caitlin and Lucy. Two are married and they have two grandchildren. Keene is an active member and teacher in his church and volunteers for community organizations, working locally on parenting and poverty issues.
After serving in the legislature Keene joined the Sacramento Lobby Firm Wilke Fleury where he was listed as “Of Counsel”
In the summer of 2009 he created a business, "Keene Consulting," in which he reported earning less than $10,000 for the year.
In 2011 he registered as lobbyist and works for a workers compensation firm.
was term-limited.
Former 4th District Senator Sam Aanestad
, former Senators Rico Oller
and Tim Leslie
and Congressman Tom McClintock
endorsed Keene's candidacy.
On June 8, 2010 Doug LaMalfa defeated Rick Keene 57.8% - 42.2% in a hotly contested election where Keene significantly outspent his opponent.
California's 4th State Senate district
California's 4th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa of Richvale.-District profile:...
. Previously, Keene served in the California State Assembly
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...
representing the 3rd district
California's 3rd State Assembly district
California's 3rd State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Republican Dan Logue of Linda.-District profile:...
from 2002 until he was termed out
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...
in 2008. Prior to his service in the Assembly, Keene served on the Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
City Council from 1994 until 2002, and as mayor in 1996. Prior to his election to the Legislature he was an attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
in Chico who operated a small general law practice and specialized in criminal defense
Defense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
, workers' compensation
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence...
, and personal injury law
Personal injury lawyer
A personal injury lawyer is a lawyer who provides legal representation to those who claim to have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, company, government agency, or other entity....
.
The Third Assembly District
The major cities that Keene represented were ChicoChico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
, Grass Valley
Grass Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Grass Valley had a population of 12,860. The population density was 2,711.3 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Grass Valley was 11,493 White, 46 African American, 208 Native American, 188 Asian, 9 Pacific Islander, 419 from other...
, and Truckee
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
.
Legislative career
Elected to the State Assembly in 2002, Keene represented the 3rd District including Lassen, Plumas, Yuba, Nevada, Sierra and portions of Butte and Placer Counties for six years. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, he served as a councilman and mayor of the City of Chico. In his second term in the Assembly, Keene assumed several leadership positions, including being selected as Republican Whip and the Vice Chair of the Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife.Chosen as Assistant Republican Leader 10 months after being first elected, Keene served as principal consultant to successive Republican Leaders on major policy issues and political strategy. He was also selected to be lead Republican on Budget and also served on the Natural Resources Committee, Utilities and Commerce Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the legislature's watchdog committee.
Since his Chico City Council days, Keene has remained firmly committed to fiscal responsibility and constantly fought to reduce taxes and wasteful spending. While in the Assembly, he focused much of his time and effort on issues of great importance to the people of the North State, namely the State Budget, Workers’ Compensation Reform and addressing the State’s dilapidated infrastructure, including working to prevent failing levees in the North State and negotiating to construct new water storage.
Voting record
- In 2007, Keene authored Assembly Bill 735 to grant illegal immigrants in California a valid work permit. The act appropriated funds necessary to cover the cost of the program and an 8% tax on wages to pay for the program.
- Voted in favor of the 2007 and 2008 budgets that caused the states budget deficits.
- Voted in favor of SB 1, a $3 billion program to build solar homes.
- Voted in favor of abortion funding
Personal
The son of a logger, Keene was born in Crescent CityCrescent City, California
Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census...
and raised in Hayfork
Hayfork, California
Hayfork is a census-designated place in Trinity County, California, United States. The population was 2,368 at the 2010 census, up from 2,315 at the 2000 census...
, a small community in Trinity County
Trinity County, California
Trinity County is a large, rugged and mountainous, heavily forested county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California, along the Trinity River and within the Salmon/Klamath Mountains. It covers an area of over two million acres , and as of the 2010 census its population...
. Keene previously worked in many vocations in his life. He has set chokers in a logging operation, driven a forklift at a nut processing plant and, for 10 years, worked at UPS. Prior to becoming a member of the Assembly, he served the community for 15 years as an attorney at his small law firm in Chico.
Keene worked his way through college and law school as a UPS driver, graduating from CSU, Chico in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies. He then went on to complete a Juris Doctorate Degree from Cal Northern School of Law
Cal Northern School of Law
Cal Northern School of Law is a private law school located in Chico, California. It offers a four-year night program aimed at working adults in Northern California....
in 1989. He is currently working as a consultant on land use and development.
Keene and his family have been residents of Butte County
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
for more than 33 years. He and his wife, Janice, have five children: Erin, Christopher, Rosie, Caitlin and Lucy. Two are married and they have two grandchildren. Keene is an active member and teacher in his church and volunteers for community organizations, working locally on parenting and poverty issues.
After serving in the legislature Keene joined the Sacramento Lobby Firm Wilke Fleury where he was listed as “Of Counsel”
In the summer of 2009 he created a business, "Keene Consulting," in which he reported earning less than $10,000 for the year.
In 2011 he registered as lobbyist and works for a workers compensation firm.
2010 Elections
Keene was a candidate for the California State Senate 4th District in 2010. Incumbent Sam AanestadSam Aanestad
Samuel Mark Aanestad is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 to represent the 3rd District. In 2002, Aanestad was elected to the California State Senate. He is a Republican. Dr...
was term-limited.
Former 4th District Senator Sam Aanestad
Sam Aanestad
Samuel Mark Aanestad is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 to represent the 3rd District. In 2002, Aanestad was elected to the California State Senate. He is a Republican. Dr...
, former Senators Rico Oller
Rico Oller
Thomas "Rico" Oller is a Republican U.S. politician from California. He served in the California State Assembly, representing the 4th District from 1996 to 2000, and the California State Senate, representing the 1st district from 2000 to 2004...
and Tim Leslie
Tim Leslie
Robert Timothy Leslie is an American politician from California and a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:Born in Ashland, Oregon, Leslie moved to California with his family as a two-year-old...
and Congressman Tom McClintock
Tom McClintock
Thomas Miller McClintock II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former Assemblyman and state Senator...
endorsed Keene's candidacy.
On June 8, 2010 Doug LaMalfa defeated Rick Keene 57.8% - 42.2% in a hotly contested election where Keene significantly outspent his opponent.