Tim Donnelly (politician)
Encyclopedia
Tim Donnelly is a member of the California State Assembly
, representing the 59th District. He is a Republican
, and is vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee. Before his election to the Assembly in November, 2010, Donnelly was a small businessman in Southern California. He currently resides in Twin Peaks, California
.
, the third of 14 children. He graduated from Southfield Christian School in Southfield, Michigan
. Donnelly attended the University of Michigan
. After one year he headed to California to complete his degree. Subsequently, Donnelly earned a BA from the University of California, Irvine
, in 1989. After college he went to work for his father in the family business. Five years later, Donnelly started his own small company.
would not seek re-election, Donnelly announced his candidacy.
Appealing to a broad base of 59th district voters, including many Tea Party
voters, he ran in the 2010 open primary election, and won the Republican nomination. He won the general election on November 2, 2010, with 57.3% of the vote, to the Democratic Party nominee's 36.8%.
Policy Priority: Illegal Immigration
Donnelly made a campaign promise to address the illegal immigration crisis. As his first act in office, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly introduced an Arizona-style law in California. Currently, he is fighting to overturn the California DREAM Act
authored by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo
. Donnelly's campaign has received over 20,000 volunteer sign ups through http://www.stopAB131.com.
Now in the Legislature, he has entered into the battle to reduce overcrowding in the California prison system, while maintaining safety for California residents. Donnelly introduced AB 175 in effort to reduce overcrowding. AB 175 would have allowed California to continue transferring prisoners to out-of-state private facilities..
The Assembly Public Safety Committee, however, was penny wise and pound foolish, when they cited a costly screening process as a reason to vote no. Not only did they ignore the fact that the State has successfully been using the transfer program formed by AB 900 for years, but it discounted the fact that if prisoners are not removed safely, they will wind up back on the streets. Additionally, an overcrowded prison is a danger to both prison guards and prisoners.
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 59th District. He 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...
, and is vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee. Before his election to the Assembly in November, 2010, Donnelly was a small businessman in Southern California. He currently resides in Twin Peaks, California
Twin Peaks, California
Twin Peaks is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, California, United States. Twin Peaks is located on California State Route 189 west-southwest of Lake Arrowhead. Twin Peaks has a post office with ZIP code 92391, which opened in 1916....
.
Biography
Tim Donnelly was born in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, the third of 14 children. He graduated from Southfield Christian School in Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
. Donnelly attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. After one year he headed to California to complete his degree. Subsequently, Donnelly earned a BA from the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
, in 1989. After college he went to work for his father in the family business. Five years later, Donnelly started his own small company.
Political career
In 2005, local news stories dealing with illegal immigration led Donnelly to join the Minuteman movement,Later, he founded the largest Minuteman Chapter in California. He returned to private life in 2006. In 2009, following the announcement that embattled 59th District Assemblyman Anthony AdamsAnthony Adams (politician)
Anthony Adams is a former California State Assemblyman who represented the 59th district from 2006 to 2010. Adams was involved in political campaigns long before he became a politician himself. He helped promote Congressman Ed Royce, the late California State Senator "Pete" Knight and San...
would not seek re-election, Donnelly announced his candidacy.
Appealing to a broad base of 59th district voters, including many Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
voters, he ran in the 2010 open primary election, and won the Republican nomination. He won the general election on November 2, 2010, with 57.3% of the vote, to the Democratic Party nominee's 36.8%.
Policy Priority: Illegal Immigration
Donnelly made a campaign promise to address the illegal immigration crisis. As his first act in office, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly introduced an Arizona-style law in California. Currently, he is fighting to overturn the California DREAM Act
California DREAM Act
The California Dream Act is a package of California State Laws that allow children who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas/immigration documentation who have attended school on a regular basis and otherwise meet in-state tuition and GPA requirements to apply for...
authored by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo
Gil Cedillo
Gilbert Anthony Cedillo is a politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in the California State Assembly....
. Donnelly's campaign has received over 20,000 volunteer sign ups through http://www.stopAB131.com.
Prison Reform
Before joining the Legislature, Donnelly was an active participant in faith-based rehabilitation, leading a Bible Study for the inmates working in local fire camps.Now in the Legislature, he has entered into the battle to reduce overcrowding in the California prison system, while maintaining safety for California residents. Donnelly introduced AB 175 in effort to reduce overcrowding. AB 175 would have allowed California to continue transferring prisoners to out-of-state private facilities..
The Assembly Public Safety Committee, however, was penny wise and pound foolish, when they cited a costly screening process as a reason to vote no. Not only did they ignore the fact that the State has successfully been using the transfer program formed by AB 900 for years, but it discounted the fact that if prisoners are not removed safely, they will wind up back on the streets. Additionally, an overcrowded prison is a danger to both prison guards and prisoners.