Bob Huff
Minority Leader of the California Senate
In office
January 5, 2012 – August 27, 2015
Preceded byBob Dutton
Succeeded byJean Fuller
California State Senate
Republican Caucus Chair
In office
August 1, 2009 – January 5, 2012
Preceded byGeorge Runner
Succeeded byTom Harman
Member of the California State Senate
from the 29th district
In office
December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2016
Preceded byBob Margett
Succeeded byJosh Newman
California State Assembly
Republican Caucus Chair
In office
December 8, 2006 – November 30, 2008
Preceded byGreg Aghazarian
Succeeded byCameron Smyth
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 60th district
In office
December 6, 2004 – November 30, 2008
Preceded byBob Pacheco
Succeeded byCurt Hagman
Personal details
Born (1953-09-09) September 9, 1953
Calexico, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMei Mei
Children4
Residence(s)San Dimas, California
Alma materWestmont College
OccupationAgriculture businessman
WebsiteBob Huff for Congress

Robert S. Huff (born September 9, 1953) is an American businessman and politician who was the California State Senate minority leader and Senate Republican leader from January 5, 2012, until August 27, 2015.[1] He represented the Senate's 29th District, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties.

Early life

Born on September 9, 1953, in Calexico, California, Huff grew up on his family's farm near El Centro.[2] He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Westmont College,[3] and his business background is in grain handling and commodity wholesaling.[4][5]

Political career

Diamond Bar

Huff served on the Diamond Bar City Council, and was Mayor of the city in 1997 and 2001.[4] He was also involved in local transportation issues, serving on the Four Corners Transportation Policy Group, Foothill Transit, and the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority.[4]

State Assembly

Huff was elected to the California State Assembly in 2004, defeating Gail Pacheco, the wife of term-limited Bob Pacheco. The election was considered an upset.[6] Reelected in 2006, he was a member of the California State Assembly until 2008.

State Senate

Huff was elected to the California State Senate for the 29th district in 2008, succeeding the term-limited Bob Margett. In 2012, he was elected by the Republican Caucus to succeed the term-limited Bob Dutton as Senate Republican Leader.[5] After the 2012 California State Senate elections, Huff was re-elected Senate Republican Leader.[7] Term limits prevented him from running for re-election in 2016.

Huff was a member of the Senate Education Committee and authored legislation affecting K-12 education. He is an advocate of charter schools,[8] school choice, and standardized testing.[9] He supported SB 161,[10] which allows trained volunteers to administer emergency medication to students with epilepsy who suffer a seizure at school. Huff introduced Senate Bill 1295,[11] a measure to approve the placement of commercial advertisements on the exterior of school-buses. This bill was rejected by the Senate Education Committee but was given an option to be re-introduced at a later time.[12] He introduced Senate Bill 1116 with Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), which defined and regulated "heritage schools", private after-school programs that teach foreign language and culture and required them to register with the California Department of Education instead of being licensed as child day care centers by the California Department of Social Services (DSS)[13][14] Huff opposed a plan that would have replaced the current testing system with new tests based on the Common Core learning goals. Because test scores would be unavailable during the new test's two-year trial period, the U.S. Department of Education threatened to impose financial penalties on the state. The alternative supported by Huff was to require the use of both the old and the new test during that period. The state Senate approved the bill.[15]

Huff cast a deciding vote in 2009 on a Senate rule waiver that allowed a measure on environmental exemptions favorable to one of Huff's donors, Majestic Realty.[16] This vote led to criticism, as Majestic was also a client of his wife's consulting business.[17] In 2011, Huff opposed Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to abolish California's redevelopment agencies.[16]

In a state government that as of 2012 is controlled by Democrats with super majorities in both houses,[18] Huff has a reputation as a moderate Republican. The Los Angeles Times opined that "Senate Republican leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar was more pragmatic, given his party's weakened political position in Sacramento. Brown 'is the most conservative of the three leading Democrats in Sacramento,' Huff said."[19] Huff has worked with Brown on issues such as California's prison crisis.[20]

Committee memberships

Huff served on the Senate Education Committee and was the Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. He also served as a member of the Joint Committee on Senate Rules, 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 committees.[21]

Huff's sub-committee assignments included: Education: Sustainable School Facilities and Education: Policy Research.

2016 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors elections

In 2016 Huff ran for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to represent the fifth district. In the election held June 7, Huff finished in third place in a field of 8 candidates, and did not make the runoff.[22][23]

2018 congressional election

In 2018 Huff ran for the United States House of Representatives to represent California's 39th congressional district.[24][25] In the election held June 5, Huff finished in sixth place in a field of 17 candidates, and did not make the runoff.

Positions and affiliations

On education, Huff received an 83% rating from the California State University system in 2011.[26] He received an 11% rating in 2012 from the California School Employees Association.[27] On business and labor issues, in 2012 he was rated 100% by the California Chamber of Commerce[28] and 12% by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.[29] He received a 100% rating from the California Pro-Life Council in 2012[30] and a 20% rating from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California in 2013.[31] He received a 92% rating from the National Rifle Association of America in 2012.[32]

In addition, he has received the following ratings: [33]

Interest groupRatingYear
American Cancer Society, California Division53%2012
American Conservative Union91%2012
California Communities United Institute42%2011
California Farm Bureau Federation100%2007
California League of Conservation Voters5%2012
California Park and Recreation Society75%2011–12
California National Organization for Women8%2009
California's Political Action Committee for Animals0%2011
California Taxpayers Association100%2012[34]
Children's Advocacy Institute58%2011
Congress of California Seniors37%2012
Consumer Federation of California13%2012
Drug Policy Forum of California (DPFCA)0%2012
Republican Liberty Caucus of California67%2011

In 2012, Huff raised $1,169,601 in campaign contributions. His largest donors came from the insurance, health professionals, and real estate sectors. The California Association of Realtors, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Medical Association, the California Building Industry Association, and the California Dental Association were his largest contributors.[35]

Recognition

Huff was recognized as 2011 Legislator of the Year by the League of California Cities for "efforts to protect local redevelopment agencies".[36] He was also recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies, California,[37] and as the 2011 Job Champion by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.[38] The California Epilepsy Foundation named three fellowships in honor of Huff at UCLA, USC and Children's Hospital Los Angeles for his work on behalf of students with epilepsy.[39] He was awarded the 2005 Local Distinguished Service Award in Transportation from the American Public Transit Association[4] and the Outstanding Community Leader of 2005 by the Old Baldy Council of the Boy Scouts of America.[4]

Personal life

Huff and his wife, Mei Mei, reside in Diamond Bar, California. They have four children and six grandchildren.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Paul Ryan hits the California ATM". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2013., posted Friday September 7, 2012, by Micaela Massimino, "... Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, turns 59 on Sunday." Per WP:CALC we have 9 September 1953 as date of birth.
  2. ↑ Lau, Jessie (August 14, 2013). "Senate GOP leader Bob Huff reaches out". Capitol Weekly. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ "75 years, 75 distinguished alumni". Westmont College. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biography". California State Senate Republican Caucus. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  5. 1 2 McGreevy, Patrick (January 4, 2012). "State Sen. Bob Huff elected new GOP leader". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Decision Makers of The San Gabriel Valley – House of Huff". San Gabriel Valley Business Journal. July 14, 2010. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ McGreevy, Patrick (December 3, 2013). "Bob Huff reelected as California Senate Republican leader". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bill Text – AB-740 Charter schools: funding". Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  9. ↑ "SB 172 Senate Bill – AMENDED". December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ "SB 161 Signed into Law Despite Union Opposition | Bob Huff". District29.cssrc.us. October 7, 2011. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Bill Number: SB 1295 Amended Bill Text". Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. March 29, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Senate panel rejects bill on school-bus advertising". Los Angeles Times. April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Senator Huff Fights to Sustain Heritage Schools". District29.cssrc.us. February 18, 2010. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  14. ↑ California Department of Education. "State Schools Chief Torlakson Announces Deadline Extension for Heritage School Registration" Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  15. ↑ Blume, Howard (September 10, 2013). "State Senate approves student testing plan over federal objections". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  16. 1 2 Goldmacher, Shane (May 10, 2011). "Redevelopment agencies: Wife of state senator fighting to save redevelopment agencies works for redevelopment backer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  17. ↑ Wagner, James (August 28, 2009). "Lawmaker, wife both lend support to Majestic's NFL stadium project". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Keys to a California GOP comeback: Camaraderie and good ideas - latimes". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 2012. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2013., "...for the first time in 80 years both houses will be dominated by supermajorities, enough heft for Democrats to pass any legislation without Republican support." The current California Governor Jerry Brown is also a member of the Democratic party.
  19. ↑ Willon, Phil (June 14, 2013). "'Less liberal' is the new conservative in state Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  20. ↑ Megerian, Chris (August 27, 2013). "Jerry Brown, lawmakers to announce prison plans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Committees | Bob Huff". District29.cssrc.us. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Los Angeles County Election Tuesday, June 7, 2000". Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Darrell Park's lead over Bob Huff grows again in 5th District race". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. June 28, 2016.
  24. ↑ "North OC's 39th Congressional Race Still a 'Toss Up' – Voice of OC". voiceofoc.org. May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  25. ↑ Mai-Duc, Christine. "DCCC drops first TV ads of 2018, attacking Republicans running for Ed Royce seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  26. ↑ "California State University Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  27. ↑ "California School Employees Association Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  28. ↑ "California Chamber of Commerce Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  29. ↑ "California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  30. ↑ "California Pro-Life Council- Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  32. ↑ "National Rifle Association Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  33. ↑ Project VoteSmart. Robert 'Bob' S. Huff's Ratings and Endorsements Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  34. ↑ "2012 Legislative Voting Record" (PDF). CalTax. California Taxpayers Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Huff, Robert (Bob)". Follow The Money. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  36. ↑ Spiegel, Eva (September 21, 2011). "League of California Cities Honors Senators Bob Huff and Rod Wright as its 2011 Legislators of the Year" (PDF) (Press release). League of California Cities. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  37. ↑ Neilly, Andrew (November 8, 2011). "Senator Bob Huff Named ACEC California's Legislator of the Year" (PDF) (Press release). American Council of Engineering Companies, California. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. ↑ Enquiry, Capitol (November 30, 2012). "Epilepsy Foundation of California to Honor State Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff at Capitol Steps". Govbuddy.com. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
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