Bob Huff | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minority Leader of theCalifornia Senate | |
| In office January 5, 2012 – August 27, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Dutton |
| Succeeded by | Jean Fuller |
| California State Senate Republican Caucus Chair | |
| In office August 1, 2009 – January 5, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | George Runner |
| Succeeded by | Tom Harman |
| Member of theCalifornia State Senate from the29th district | |
| In office December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Margett |
| Succeeded by | Josh Newman |
| California State Assembly Republican Caucus Chair | |
| In office December 8, 2006 – November 30, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Greg Aghazarian |
| Succeeded by | Cameron Smyth |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the60th district | |
| In office December 6, 2004 – November 30, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Pacheco |
| Succeeded by | Curt Hagman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1953-09-09)September 9, 1953 (age 71) Calexico, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mei Mei |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence(s) | San Dimas, California |
| Alma mater | Westmont College |
| Occupation | Agriculture businessman |
| Website | Bob Huff for Congress[usurped] |
Robert S. Huff (born September 9, 1953) is an American businessman and politician who was theCalifornia State Senate minority leader and SenateRepublican leader from January 5, 2012, until August 27, 2015.[1] He represented the Senate's29th District, which includes portions ofLos Angeles,Orange, andSan Bernardinocounties.
Born on September 9, 1953, inCalexico, California, Huff grew up on his family's farm nearEl Centro.[2] He has a bachelor's degree in psychology fromWestmont College,[3] and his business background is in grain handling and commodity wholesaling.[4][5]
Huff served on theDiamond BarCity 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,[when?] Foothill Transit,[when?] and the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority.[4]
Huff was elected to theCalifornia State Assembly in 2004, defeating Gail Pacheco, the wife ofterm-limitedBob Pacheco. The election was considered an upset.[6] Reelected in 2006, he was a member of the California State Assembly until 2008.
Huff was elected to theCalifornia State Senate for the29th district in 2008, succeeding the term-limitedBob Margett. In 2012, he was elected by the Republican Caucus to succeed the term-limitedBob Dutton as Senate Republican Leader.[5] After the2012 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 withLeland 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 theCalifornia Department of Education instead of being licensed as child day care centers by theCalifornia Department of Social Services (DSS)[13][14] Huff opposed a plan that would have replaced the current testing system with new tests based on theCommon Core learning goals. Because test scores would be unavailable during the new test's two-year trial period, theU.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 GovernorJerry Brown’s plan to abolish California's redevelopment agencies.[16]
In a state government that as of 2012 is controlled by Democrats withsuper majorities inboth houses,[18] Huff has a reputation as a moderate Republican.[citation needed] TheLos 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]
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.
In 2016 Huff ran for theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors to representthe 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]
In 2018 Huff ran for theUnited States House of Representatives to representCalifornia's 39th congressional district.[24] Inthe election held June 5, Huff finished in sixth place in a field of 17 candidates, and did not make the runoff.[25]
On education, Huff received an 83% rating from the California State University system in 2011.[26] He received an 11% rating in 2012 from theCalifornia School Employees Association.[27] On business and labor issues, in 2012 he was rated 100% by theCalifornia 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 theNational Rifle Association of America in 2012.[32]
In addition, he has received the following ratings:[33]
| Interest group | Rating | Year |
|---|---|---|
| American Cancer Society, California Division | 53% | 2012 |
| American Conservative Union | 91% | 2012 |
| California Communities United Institute | 42% | 2011 |
| CaliforniaFarm Bureau Federation | 100% | 2007 |
| California League of Conservation Voters | 5% | 2012 |
| California Park and Recreation Society | 75% | 2011–12 |
| CaliforniaNational Organization for Women | 8% | 2009 |
| California's Political Action Committee for Animals | 0% | 2011 |
| California Taxpayers Association | 100% | 2012[34] |
| Children's Advocacy Institute | 58% | 2011 |
| Congress of California Seniors | 37% | 2012 |
| Consumer Federation of California | 13% | 2012 |
| Drug Policy Forum of California (DPFCA) | 0% | 2012 |
| Republican Liberty Caucus of California | 67% | 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 CaliforniaChamber of Commerce, theCalifornia Medical Association, theCalifornia Building Industry Association, and theCalifornia Dental Association were his largest contributors.[35]
Huff was recognized as 2011 Legislator of the Year by theLeague of California Cities for "efforts to protect localredevelopment agencies".[36] He was also recognized by theAmerican 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 atUCLA,USC andChildren'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 theAmerican Public Transit Association[4] and the Outstanding Community Leader of 2005 by theOld Baldy Council of theBoy Scouts of America.[4]
Huff and his wife, Mei Mei, reside in Diamond Bar, California. As of 2013, they have four children and six grandchildren.[4]
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