Tony Strickland
Encyclopedia
Anthony A. "Tony" Strickland (born February 17, 1970) is a California
State Senator
, representing the 19th District
. Strickland is a member of the Republican Party
and a former Assemblyman
, representing the 37th District
from 1998 to 2004.
. Don Strickland met his wife, Antonie, when he was stationed in Germany. Don and Antonie Strickland moved to Ventura County
with their son Tony in 1973.
Tony Strickland earned his Bachelor of Arts
in political science at Whittier College
, where he earned the Leadership and Service Award and was a Nixon
Scholar.
From 1996 to 1997, Strickland served as Chief of Staff
to then-Assembly
man Tom McClintock
(now a Congressman
).
Strickland married his wife, future Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
, on October 12, 1997. They have one daughter, Ruby Ruth, and one son, Anthony Paul.
During his time in the Assembly, Strickland was Chairman of the Assembly Republican Caucus, the second-highest ranking position for a Republican in the Assembly. During his three terms, he was also Vice Chairman of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee and was also a member of the Assembly Committees on Banking and Finance; Elections, Redistricting, and Constitutional Amendments; Higher Education; and Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media;. In addition, he served on the Assembly Republican Education Reform Task Force, which developed a number of education reform proposals that were rejected.
Term limit
s prevented Strickland from seeking a fourth term in 2004, so Audra Strickland ran for the Assembly seat and won the seat (as well as reelection in 2006 and 2008).
. He won 40.7% of the vote in a four-way primary, besting Senator Abel Maldonado
, his nearest opponent, who received 37.0% of the vote. Strickland was defeated by John Chiang
in the general election by a 50.7%-40.2% margin.
. Senate District 19 includes areas of Ventura
, Santa Barbara
, and Los Angeles Counties
. The race was highly competitive and the closest state Senate race in California that year. Jackson conceded just five days before Strickland was sworn in to the Senate. He had won the election by 900 votes.
The race was also contentious, with critics of Strickland upset at his alleged misrepresentations of his business background. On various campgain literature, the Strickland campaign portrayed Strickland as a vice president of Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC—even though Strickland has worked in politics his entire adult life, and Green Wave Energy Solutions LLC has not done any business in California.
With Tony Strickland's 2008 election to the State Senate and his wife, Audra, simultaneously winning reelection to the State Assembly, the Stricklands became the second husband and wife to serve concurrently in the California State Legislature
(after Senator George Runner
and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner).
between Strickland and Chiang, who was unopposed in his bid for the Democratic nomination for re-election as State Controller. In the general election, Strickland lost again to Chiang, this time by a wider margin: Chiang received 55% of the vote, while Strickland received 36%.
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...
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...
, representing the 19th District
California's 19th State Senate district
California's 19th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Republican Tony Strickland of Moorpark.-District profile:The 19th District includes most of Santa Barbara County and the Simi Valley...
. Strickland is a member of the Republican Party
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 a former Assemblyman
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 37th District
California's 37th State Assembly district
California's 37th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Republican Jeff Gorell of Camarillo.-District profile:...
from 1998 to 2004.
Early life
Strickland was born at Fort Ord, California, when his father, Don, was stationed there as a soldier in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Don Strickland met his wife, Antonie, when he was stationed in Germany. Don and Antonie Strickland moved to Ventura County
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
with their son Tony in 1973.
Tony Strickland earned his Bachelor of Arts
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 political science at Whittier College
Whittier College
Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, California. As of January 2009, the college has approximately 1540 enrolled students.-Overview:...
, where he earned the Leadership and Service Award and was a Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
Scholar.
From 1996 to 1997, Strickland 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 then-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...
man 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...
(now a Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
).
Strickland married his wife, future Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
Audra Strickland
Audra Strickland is a Republican who served as a member of the 37th district of the California State Assembly from December 2004 to November 2010. She succeeded her husband, Tony Strickland, who was term-limited. Prior to serving in the Assembly, she was a junior high school teacher for a year at...
, on October 12, 1997. They have one daughter, Ruby Ruth, and one son, Anthony Paul.
Assembly career
Strickland was first elected to the Assembly in 1998 with 49% of the vote in a three-way race. He was re-elected in 2000 with 51% of the vote again in a three-way race. He was re-elected to a third term with 63.1% of the vote in 2002.During his time in the Assembly, Strickland was Chairman of the Assembly Republican Caucus, the second-highest ranking position for a Republican in the Assembly. During his three terms, he was also Vice Chairman of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee and was also a member of the Assembly Committees on Banking and Finance; Elections, Redistricting, and Constitutional Amendments; Higher Education; and Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media;. In addition, he served on the Assembly Republican Education Reform Task Force, which developed a number of education reform proposals that were rejected.
Term limit
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...
s prevented Strickland from seeking a fourth term in 2004, so Audra Strickland ran for the Assembly seat and won the seat (as well as reelection in 2006 and 2008).
2006 campaign for State Controller
In 2006 Strickland ran for State ControllerCalifornia State Controller
The State Controller is the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California in the United States. The post has broader responsibilities and authority than the California State Treasurer...
. He won 40.7% of the vote in a four-way primary, besting Senator Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado is an American politician who was the 48th Lieutenant Governor of California. On November 23, 2009, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Maldonado as his nominee for Lieutenant Governor to fill the vacancy created by John Garamendi's election to the United States House of...
, his nearest opponent, who received 37.0% of the vote. Strickland was defeated by John Chiang
John Chiang (California politician)
John Chiang is a Democratic politician and has been California State Controller since January 8, 2007. He previously served as Chair of the California Board of Equalization and represented the Fourth District, primarily serving southern Los Angeles County...
in the general election by a 50.7%-40.2% margin.
Senate career and campiagn controversy
Strickland ran in California's 19th district against the Democratic nominee, former state Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth JacksonHannah-Beth Jackson
Hannah-Beth Jackson was a member of the California State Assemblyela é muito shwisha house following her election on November 3, 1998, representing the 35th Assembly District, which encompasses portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties for six years. Jackson is a former prosecutor and is...
. Senate District 19 includes areas of Ventura
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
, and Los Angeles Counties
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...
. The race was highly competitive and the closest state Senate race in California that year. Jackson conceded just five days before Strickland was sworn in to the Senate. He had won the election by 900 votes.
The race was also contentious, with critics of Strickland upset at his alleged misrepresentations of his business background. On various campgain literature, the Strickland campaign portrayed Strickland as a vice president of Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC—even though Strickland has worked in politics his entire adult life, and Green Wave Energy Solutions LLC has not done any business in California.
With Tony Strickland's 2008 election to the State Senate and his wife, Audra, simultaneously winning reelection to the State Assembly, the Stricklands became the second husband and wife to serve concurrently in the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
(after Senator George Runner
George Runner
George C. Runner, Jr. is the Republican Board Member for District 2 of the five-member California Board of Equalization ....
and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner).
Second campaign for State Controller
Even though two years remained in his first term in the State Senate, Strickland decided to run for State Controller. In the June 2010 primary, Strickland won 60% of the vote to gain the Republican nomination for State Controller, setting up a rematch of the 2006 Controller electionCalifornia State Controller election, 2006
The 2006 California State Controller election occurred on November 7, 2006. The primary elections took place on June 6, 2006. Board of Equalization Chair John Chiang, the Democratic nominee, defeated the Republican nominee, Assemblyman Tony Strickland, for the office previously held by Democrat...
between Strickland and Chiang, who was unopposed in his bid for the Democratic nomination for re-election as State Controller. In the general election, Strickland lost again to Chiang, this time by a wider margin: Chiang received 55% of the vote, while Strickland received 36%.
External links
- Senator Tony Strickland - Official State web site
- Tony Strickland for Senate - Official Campaign web site
- Strickland's VoteSmart Bio Page