Mike Berryhill
Encyclopedia
Mike Berryhill is a farmer
, agricultural
and public official from Ceres, California
. He was the Republican nominee
for Congress from California's 18th congressional district
in the 2010 general election
. The election pit Berryhill against 4-term Democrat
Representative Dennis Cardoza
. While the 18th district leans only slightly Democratic, having a Cook PVI
D+4, Cardoza only faced serious competition in 2002, when he was first elected to the seat. This race is considered competitive in 2010 because of Mike's experience in local agriculture, his family name, and the current political climate.
Berryhill comes from a Republican political family that's well-known in the San Joaquin Valley
. Mike’s Uncle, Clare Berryhill, served in both houses of the California State Legislature
and also served as director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
under Governor George Deukmejian
. His first cousins, Tom
and Bill Berryhill
, currently represent the 25th
and 26th
districts, respectively, in the California State Assembly
.
Mike was president of Young Farmers and Ranchers of California
and elected to the Turlock Irrigation District Board. He also served several decades on the Ceres School Board, and, in 2005, Berryhill Elementary School was named in honor of Mike and other members of the Berryhill family who served on the school board.
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and public official from Ceres, California
Ceres, California
Ceres is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 45,417 at the 2010 census, up from 34,609 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area.-General:...
. He was the Republican nominee
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
for Congress from California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley and includes the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Ceres, Atwater, Merced and Los Banos...
in the 2010 general election
United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2010
The United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2010 were held on November 2, 2010 to determine who would represent California's various congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives. In the 112th Congress, California has 53 seats in the House,...
. The election pit Berryhill against 4-term Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Representative Dennis Cardoza
Dennis Cardoza
Dennis A. Cardoza is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district takes in a large swath of the Central Valley, from Stockton to Fresno. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
. While the 18th district leans only slightly Democratic, having a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
D+4, Cardoza only faced serious competition in 2002, when he was first elected to the seat. This race is considered competitive in 2010 because of Mike's experience in local agriculture, his family name, and the current political climate.
Berryhill comes from a Republican political family that's well-known 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...
. Mike’s Uncle, Clare Berryhill, served in both houses of the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
and also served as director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Food and Agriculture
The California Department of Food and Agriculture , is a cabinet-level agency in the government of California. Established in 1919 by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor William Stephens, the Department of Food and Agriculture is responsible for ensuring the state's...
under Governor George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
. His first cousins, Tom
Tom Berryhill
Tom Berryhill is a Republican politician in the United States who currently represents the 14th district in the California State Senate...
and Bill Berryhill
Bill Berryhill
Bill Berryhill Bill Berryhill Bill Berryhill (born March 18, 1958 is an American farmer and politician. He currently represents the 26th district in the California State Assembly, encompassing parts of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties in California's Central Valley. He currently lives in Ceres...
, currently represent the 25th
California's 25th State Assembly district
California's 25th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Republican Kristin Olsen of Modesto.-District profile:*All of Calaveras County*All of Mariposa County...
and 26th
California's 26th State Assembly district
California's 26th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Republican Bill Berryhill of Ceres.-District profile:San Joaquin County - 40.35%*August - 0.06%...
districts, respectively, in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
.
Mike was president of Young Farmers and Ranchers of California
National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs is the largest rural youth organisation of its kind, in the United Kingdom. The Federation covers various Young Farmers' Clubs throughout England and Wales, helping support young people in agriculture and the countryside...
and elected to the Turlock Irrigation District Board. He also served several decades on the Ceres School Board, and, in 2005, Berryhill Elementary School was named in honor of Mike and other members of the Berryhill family who served on the school board.