Joe Simitian

S. Joseph Simitian

Simitian at the TeachAIDS inaugural gala, 2010
Member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from the 5th District
Assumed office
January 7, 2013
Member of the California Senate
from the 11th district
In office
December 6, 2004 – November 30, 2012
Preceded by Byron Sher
Succeeded by Jerry Hill (redistricted)
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 21st district
In office
December 4, 2000 – December 6, 2004
Preceded by Ted Lempert
Succeeded by Ira Ruskin
Member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from the 5th District
In office
December 2, 1996 – December 4, 2000
Preceded by Dianne McKenna
Succeeded by Liz Kniss
Palo Alto City Councillor
In office
December 7, 1992 – December 2, 1996
Personal details
Born (1953-02-01) February 1, 1953
Palo Alto, California
Nationality Armenian-American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Mary Hughes
Residence Palo Alto, California
Alma mater Colorado College
Stanford University
UC Berkeley School of Law
Occupation Attorney
Businessman
City Planner

Saren Joseph Simitian (born February 1, 1953) is a California Democratic politician. From 2004 to 2012, he was the State Senator representing California's 11th State Senate district, which encompasses all or part of 13 cities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.[1] Approaching his term limit at the end of 2012, he ran for and was elected as a Santa Clara County Supervisor, to begin serving in 2013.[2]

Simitian chaired the California Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources. He is the author of California's 20% renewable energy portfolio standard and California's data breach notification law, which requires companies and agencies to notify individuals when their personal information is compromised.[3]

Simitian also authored several high profile transportation safety laws, including California's hands-free cell phone bill.[4][5]

Family

Joe Simitian is married to Mary Hughes, a Bay Area political consultant. Simitian proposed to Hughes on election night in 1996 upon being elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.[6]

Education

Early political career

Joe Simitian served as President of the Palo Alto School Board from 1983 to 1991.[7] He was on the Palo Alto City Council from 1992 to 1996 and served as Mayor for part of that time.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Simitian was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in November 1996. From 1997 to 2000 he represented District 5 (Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Mountain View, Saratoga, and Stanford, as well as portions of Sunnyvale and San Jose).

State Assembly

Simitian was elected to the California State Assembly's 21st District in November 2000, and re-elected to a second term in November 2002.

State Senate

Simitian was elected to the California State Senate in November 2004 for District 11. He defeated former Assemblyman and San Mateo County Supervisor Ted Lempert in the Democratic primary election, also prevailing in the general election. Simitian was re-elected to a second term in 2008. His second term ended in 2012. Simitian was one of only four Democratic Senators to vote against California's ambitious High Speed Rail plan.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has put Simitian on a list of individuals banned from entering the country. The decision was made after Simitian travelled to Nagorno-Karabakh without Baku’s permission.[8]

Legislation

Some of Joe Simitian's notable pieces of legislation include:[9]

According to the New York Times:

Simitian, who led a successful fight to ban motorists from sending text messages and using hand-held phones, has reintroduced a bill that failed last year to fine bicyclists $20 for similar multitasking. . . . Mr. Simitian is proposing the $20 fine on bicyclists who send text messages and a $30 increase on the existing $20 penalty for doing the same activity while driving a car, a difference that he said reflects the relative risk the behavior poses to others.

“At some point,” he said, “you do have to simply rely on the good judgment of folks as they go through their daily lives.”

Mr. Simitian added that he believed that efforts to legislate against distraction outside the car could diminish the seriousness of hard-fought campaigns and laws meant to curb distracted driving.

“Is there a problem out there with distracted pedestrians? I’d be the first to acknowledge it,” he said. But, he added, “It’s appropriate to distinguish between 4,000 pounds of steel and glass coming at you and a pedestrian who may well put themselves at risk but probably poses less of a risk to the general public.”[10]

Committees

Simitian serves on the following Senate committees:[11]

Awards

Simitian has received the following awards (partial list):[12]

Community service

The following are some of Simitian's other activities:[13]

Current

Past

References

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