Michael J. Rubio
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Rubio is a California State Senator representing the 16th Senate District. He previously served as Fifth District Kern County Supervisor representing the communities of Arvin, Lamont and East Bakersfield.
and subsequently studied Justice Administration at the University of New Haven
in Connecticut, graduating with honors in Criminology. Rubio worked for the United States Department of Justice
.
Rubio returned to Kern County with a job as an advocate for youth and led an agency that provided health insurance to underprivileged children.
For four years, Rubio worked for State Senator Dean Florez
. In Florez's Sacramento office, Rubio worked on issues such as the quality of air in the San Joaquin Valley
, opposing sludge coming into Kern County from Los Angeles and other surrounding areas, as well as initiatives in education.
Senator Michael J. Rubio was elected to the 16th State Senate District in November 2010, representing all or portions of Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare Counties.
In March 2004, Senator Michael J. Rubio was elected to represent the Fifth District on the Kern County Board of Supervisors
and, at the time, became the youngest elected supervisor in California. Notably, Senator Rubio is also the youngest Senator currently serving in the California State Senate.
Senator Rubio led the effort to combat gang violence within the southern Central Valley. The Kern County Gang Violence Strategic Plan—authored by then-Supervisor Michael Rubio—guided the tripling of the Sheriff's Gang Unit, created mentoring and after-school programs and steered children away from gangs.
While on the Kern County Board of Supervisors, Senator Rubio spearheaded the Kern County Renewable Energy initiative and has worked to facilitate the development of some of the largest solar and wind projects in California.
Senator Rubio firmly believes that putting people back to work needs to be the state’s first order of business. From restoring water in the San Joaquin Valley to introducing SB 16 which streamlines the permitting processes for renewable energy projects, he recognizes the importance of creating jobs and its connection to a better quality of life for all Californians.
He was also awarded the prestigious John F. Kennedy Jr. Leadership Award from the California Democratic Party and the German Marshall Memorial Fellowship from the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Recently, Senator Rubio received the Kern COG Regional Award of Merit – Distinguished Leadership / Elected Official and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Standing Committees:
Joint Committee:
In June 2010, Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett revealed that Rubio was living in the 18th Senate District
, calling into question his eligibility to run for office in the 16th. In 2001, Rubio's precinct was incorrectly drawn into the 16th State Senate District. The California Secretary of State ruled that Rubio's name would remain on the ballot. Acting in good faith to further address the situation, Rubio and his family immediately moved to a house inside the district in East Bakersfield. He subsequently released a radio ad about the incident citing the mistake as yet another example of broken government.
On Tuesday, November 2, Michael J. Rubio was elected to represent the 16th District in the California State Senate. He defeated his Republican opponent, Tim Thiesen, with over 60% of the vote.
with his wife, Dora, and their daughter, Illiana. Dora Rubio was a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Career
Michael J. Rubio put himself through Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield College
Bakersfield College is a public community college located in Bakersfield, California, USA. Bakersfield College has an official Twitter account at @bcrenegades and an official...
and subsequently studied Justice Administration at the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
in Connecticut, graduating with honors in Criminology. Rubio worked for the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
.
Rubio returned to Kern County with a job as an advocate for youth and led an agency that provided health insurance to underprivileged children.
For four years, Rubio worked for State Senator Dean Florez
Dean Florez
Dean Raymond Florez was a California State Senator from the 16th Senate District from 2002 until the end of his second term in November of 2010.Florez was born and reared in the Central Valley....
. In Florez's Sacramento office, Rubio worked on issues such as the quality of air in the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
, opposing sludge coming into Kern County from Los Angeles and other surrounding areas, as well as initiatives in education.
Senator Michael J. Rubio was elected to the 16th State Senate District in November 2010, representing all or portions of Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare Counties.
In March 2004, Senator Michael J. Rubio was elected to represent the Fifth District on the Kern County Board of Supervisors
Kern County Board of Supervisors
The Kern County Board of Supervisors is the legislative and executive body that controls Kern County, California.-Modern:In October 2011 the members were:* 1st District, Jon McQuiston.* 2nd District, Zack Scrivner.* 3rd District, Mike Maggard....
and, at the time, became the youngest elected supervisor in California. Notably, Senator Rubio is also the youngest Senator currently serving in the California State Senate.
Senator Rubio led the effort to combat gang violence within the southern Central Valley. The Kern County Gang Violence Strategic Plan—authored by then-Supervisor Michael Rubio—guided the tripling of the Sheriff's Gang Unit, created mentoring and after-school programs and steered children away from gangs.
While on the Kern County Board of Supervisors, Senator Rubio spearheaded the Kern County Renewable Energy initiative and has worked to facilitate the development of some of the largest solar and wind projects in California.
Senator Rubio firmly believes that putting people back to work needs to be the state’s first order of business. From restoring water in the San Joaquin Valley to introducing SB 16 which streamlines the permitting processes for renewable energy projects, he recognizes the importance of creating jobs and its connection to a better quality of life for all Californians.
He was also awarded the prestigious John F. Kennedy Jr. Leadership Award from the California Democratic Party and the German Marshall Memorial Fellowship from the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Recently, Senator Rubio received the Kern COG Regional Award of Merit – Distinguished Leadership / Elected Official and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Committees
Senator Rubio currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Subcommittee No. 4 and also sits on the following Senate committees:Standing Committees:
- Agriculture Committee (Vice Chair)
- Budget and Fiscal Review
- Energy, Utilities and Communications
- Health
- Transportation and Housing
- Veterans Affairs
Joint Committee:
- Legislative Audit
State Senate candidacy
In July 2008, Rubio announced his intention to run for state senate when Senator Florez's term expires in 2010. He chose not to accept voluntary spending limits and expected to spend $1 million on his campaign.In June 2010, Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett revealed that Rubio was living in the 18th Senate District
California's 18th State Senate district
California's 18th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate districts. It is currently represented by Republican Jean Fuller of Bakersfield.-District profile:Kern County*Bakersfield*California City*Maricopa*Ridgecrest*Taft*Tehachapi...
, calling into question his eligibility to run for office in the 16th. In 2001, Rubio's precinct was incorrectly drawn into the 16th State Senate District. The California Secretary of State ruled that Rubio's name would remain on the ballot. Acting in good faith to further address the situation, Rubio and his family immediately moved to a house inside the district in East Bakersfield. He subsequently released a radio ad about the incident citing the mistake as yet another example of broken government.
On Tuesday, November 2, Michael J. Rubio was elected to represent the 16th District in the California State Senate. He defeated his Republican opponent, Tim Thiesen, with over 60% of the vote.
Opposition to Proposition 19
Rubio came out against Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. He characterized the initiative as "bad public policy" and spent $20,000 of his own money to air radio ads opposing the proposition.Personal life
Rubio lives in East BakersfieldEast Bakersfield, California
East Bakersfield is a large unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It lies at an elevation of 495 feet . It lies to the east and south of the city of Bakersfield, and lies among rolling hills. East Bakersfield's population is approximately 55,000, and has large Hispanic and African...
with his wife, Dora, and their daughter, Illiana. Dora Rubio was a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.