Tom Lackey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Fox |
| Constituency | 36th district (2014–2022) 34th district (2022–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-03-12)March 12, 1959 (age 66) Boron, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Linda Lackey |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Utah State University (BA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Thomas W. Lackey (born March 12, 1959) is an American teacher, law enforcement officer andpolitician currently serving in theCalifornia State Assembly. He is aRepublican representing the34th district, encompassing parts ofAntelope Valley,Victor Valley, theSan Bernardino Mountains, and theHigh Desert includingBarstow andTwentynine Palms to theNevada state line. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, he served on thePalmdale ElementarySchool Board and thePalmdaleCity Council.
Tom Lackey grew up in the small town ofBoron, California, where his father was adentist. In high school, Lackey became anEagle Scout and was active in student government. He later received aBachelor's degree in Special Education fromUtah State University after spending two years on an overseas missionary trip.[1] After graduating, Lackey became an elementary school special education teacher. Eventually, Lackey would go from the classroom to a career in law enforcement, spending 28 years as an officer with theCalifornia Highway Patrol.[2]
Lackey began his career in local elected office as a Trustee for thePalmdale ElementarySchool Board.[2] He later was elected to the Palmdale City Council in 2005.[3] While a City Councilman, Lackey served as a city appointee to the California Contract Cities Association, the Antelope Valley Crime Task Force, Antelope Valley Transit Authority Board, and the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force.[4] In 2012, Lackey ran for theCalifornia State Assembly, but was defeated in the primary byLancasterCity Councilman Ron Smith, who lost the general election in anupset. In 2014, Lackey was elected to the California State Assembly representing the 36th Assembly District.[2]
In 2014, Lackey announced he planned to run for 36th California State Assembly District against the incumbentSteve Fox who was considered one of the most vulnerable democrats in the legislature.[5] The race was one of the costliest of the 2014 elections with both campaigns and independent expenditures spending a combined $2.2 million.[6] Lackey defeated Fox with 60% of the vote to Fox's 40%. He was sworn into office on December 5, 2014. Lackey began his term by declining a pay increase that was approved for Legislators' salaries. He was one of six Assembly members to decline the raise.[7] Lackey authored a roadside "drug breathalyzer" bill, Assembly Bill 1356[8] that was rejected by state legislators "...in large part because THC levels are not good indicators of intoxication..."[9] Lackey also co-authored the bi-partisan and historic Medical Marijuana Safety and Regulation Act (AB 266) in 2015. Part of a package of laws intended to create a statewide framework for regulating medical marijuana. Part of the law is aimed at addressing the proliferation of drugged driving in California and is funding a study atUC San Diego to create tools to recognize marijuana-impairment in drivers.[10][11]
The California Police Chiefs Association named Lackey their 2015 Legislator of the Year for his promotion of public safety and his efforts to curb driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.[12] He also received the 2015 Legislator of Year award from the special education advocacy group “Easter Seals" organization[13] for his leadership in successfully advocating for increased funding for special needs Californians.[14]
In the Assembly, Lackey serves as Vice Chair of the Local Government Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and on the committees on Accountability and Administrative Review, Aging & Long-Term Care, Budget and Government Organization.[15]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Ron Smith | 15,097 | 35.1 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 14,160 | 32.9 | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey | 13,795 | 32.0 | |
| Total votes | 43,052 | 100.0 | ||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey | 15,095 | 41.1 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox (incumbent) | 12,055 | 32.8 | |
| Republican | JD Kennedy | 4,460 | 12.2 | |
| Republican | Suzette M. Martinez | 3,390 | 9.2 | |
| Democratic | Kermit F. Franklin | 1,706 | 4.6 | |
| Total votes | 36,706 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Tom Lackey | 42,107 | 60.2 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox (incumbent) | 27,866 | 39.8 | |
| Total votes | 69,973 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 35,019 | 48.2 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 21,541 | 29.6 | |
| Democratic | Darren W. Parker | 11,236 | 15.5 | |
| Democratic | Ollie M. McCaulley | 4,891 | 6.7 | |
| Total votes | 72,687 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 77,801 | 53.1 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 68,755 | 46.9 | |
| Total votes | 146,556 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 35,628 | 60.3 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 23,447 | 39.7 | |
| Total votes | 59,075 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 66,584 | 52.1 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 61,310 | 47.9 | |
| Total votes | 127,894 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 45,255 | 53.0 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 14,771 | 17.3 | |
| Democratic | Johnathon Ervin | 6,615 | 7.8 | |
| Democratic | Diedra M. Greenaway | 5,084 | 6.0 | |
| Democratic | Michael P. Rives | 4,055 | 4.7 | |
| Democratic | Ollie M. McCaulley | 3,729 | 4.4 | |
| Democratic | Lourdes Everett | 3,405 | 4.0 | |
| Democratic | Eric Andrew Ohlsen | 2,440 | 2.9 | |
| Total votes | 85,354 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 102,442 | 55.2 | |
| Democratic | Steve Fox | 83,240 | 44.8 | |
| Total votes | 185,682 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Thurston Smith (incumbent) | 23,663 | 31.1 | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 22,622 | 29.7 | |
| Democratic | Rita Ramirez Dean | 20,384 | 26.8 | |
| Democratic | Raj Kahlon | 4,063 | 5.3 | |
| Republican | Paul Fournier | 3,189 | 4.2 | |
| No party preference | Roger LaPlante | 2,122 | 2.8 | |
| Total votes | 76,043 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 63,840 | 56.5 | |
| Republican | Thurston Smith (incumbent) | 49,183 | 43.5 | |
| Total votes | 113,023 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 58,283 | 66.1 | |
| Democratic | Ricardo Ortega | 29,848 | 33.9 | |
| Total votes | 88,131 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Tom Lackey (incumbent) | 117,751 | 62.0 | |
| Democratic | Ricardo Ortega | 72,152 | 38.0 | |
| Total votes | 189,903 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
