Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano (b. December 15, 1942) is a former Democratic member of the California State Assembly, representing District 17 from 2008 to 2014. Ammiano did not seek re-election in 2014.
Biography
Ammiano's professional experience includes working as a special education teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District from 1969-1990, as an English teacher in Vietnam, and as a stand-up comedian.[1]
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Ammiano served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1994-2008 and on the San Francisco School Board from 1990-1994. He is a member of the Assembly Coastal Caucus, Environmental Caucus, Golden Gate Bridge Board, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission.[2]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ammiano served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Health |
| • Human Services |
| • Public Safety, Chair |
| • Transportation |
| • Arts |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ammiano served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Arts |
| • Education |
| • Health |
| • Human Services |
| • Public Safety, Chair |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ammiano served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Arts |
| • Education |
| • Health |
| • Human Services, Vice chair |
| • Public Safety, Chair |
Issues
Marijuana
Ammiano introduced a bill in the 2009 session of the California State Assembly to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.[3]
The bill won initial approval from the Assembly's Public Safety Committee in January 2010.[4]
Gay rights
Ammiano was a key organizer against California Proposition 6 (1978), an anti-gay rights proposition which was defeated by state voters in 1978. In the 2008 film "Milk", Ammiano plays a cameo role in which he shouts down the actor playing state Sen. John Briggs.[5]
Sponsored legislation
Ammiano's sponsored legislation includes:
- AB 390 - Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education
- AB 633 - Death penalty
- AB 772 - The Local Government Identification Act
- AB 1266 - Transgender Student Participation Based on Gender Identity
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Political Courage test
Ammiano provided answers to the California State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected. In the test Ammiano listed his legislative priorities as "Universal access to health care," "Quality public schools and colleges," and "Affordable housing."[6]
Legislative scorecard
Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[7][8]
On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Ammiano ranked as a 100, along with eight other Democratic members of the state assembly.[9]
Elections
2012
Ammiano won re-election in the 2012 election for California State Assembly District 17. Due to redistricting following the 2010 census, he was displaced from District 13. He and Jason Clark (R) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, unopposed. He was subsequently elected in the general election on November 6, 2012.[10][11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Tom Ammiano Incumbent |
86.2% | 161,124 | |
| Republican | Jason P. Clark | 13.8% | 25,728 | |
| Total Votes | 186,852 | |||
2010
Ammiano won re-election to the 13th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the June 8 primary. He defeated Republican Laura A. Peter in the November 2 general election.[13]
| California State Assembly, District 13 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Tom Ammiano (D)
|
120,174 | |||
| Laura A. Peter (R) | 24,741 | |||
2008
In 2008 Ammiano was elected to the California State Assembly District 13. Ammiano (D) finished with 162,977 votes while his opponent Harmeet Dhillon (R) finished with 32,552 votes.[14] Ammiano raised $544,239 for his campaign fund.[15]
| California State Assembly District 13 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Tom Ammiano (D)
|
162,977 | |||
| Harmeet Dhillon (R) | 32,552 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
- Legislators are scored by the California Civil Liberties Council on their votes on "bills related to due process, privacy rights, equal protection, and criminal justice."
- Legislators are scored by California Clean Money Action on their votes on bills "to limit the undue influence of Big Money in politics in California."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to labor.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to water policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that relate to senior issues
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to consumers.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on taxpayer-related issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the California State Legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31.
|
Noteworthy events
"You lie!" incident
In October 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger attended a Democratic County Central Committee fundraiser in San Francisco. Ammiano said he thought that the appearance by the Republican Governor of California was a "cheap publicity stunt." When Schwarzenegger was introduced, Ammiano shouted "You lie!" and walked out of the gathering, saying that Schwarzenegger could "kiss my gay ass."[16]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ammiano, who is single, has one child, Annie Jupiter Jones.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Tom + Ammiano + California + Legislature
See also
- California State Legislature
- California State Assembly
- California Assembly Committees
- California State Assembly District 17
External links
- Tom Ammiano's personal website
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile of Tom Ammiano on Project Vote Smart
- Biographical profile of Tom Ammiano on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ Dear Harvey, "Character Research: Tom Ammiano," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Huffington Post, "California Stations Reject Ad Calling For Pot Legalization," July 8, 2009
- ↑ New York Times, "Committee Approves Calif. Pot Legalization Bill," January 12, 2010
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Three questions for Tom Ammiano," March 2009
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Ammiano Issue Positions," accessed June 12, 2014
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
- ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard (Archived)," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Campaign funds," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ SF List, "Gov. Schwarzenegger to Tom Ammiano & SF: F*ck You," October 27, 2009
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cathleen Galgiani (D) |
California State Assembly District 17 2012-2014 |
Succeeded by David Chiu (D) |
| Preceded by - |
California State Assembly District 13 2008–2012 |
Succeeded by Susan Talamantes Eggman (D) |
