Asemblymember John Laird; Biography

Asemblymember John Laird was Elected to the California State Assembly in November 2002. John Laird represents parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara Counties. Mr. Laird Chairs the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, the Assembly Select Committee on California Water Needs and Climate Change, and the Special Committee on State Mandates. He also serves on the Assembly Committees on Judiciary; Labor and Employment; Natural Resources; Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security; and Revenue and Taxation. He has authored legislation relating to the environment, education, and farmland protection. Prior to election he served for seventeen years in local government, including two terms on the Santa Cruz City Council, two terms as Mayor, and eight years as a Cabrillo Community College Trustee. Raised in Vallejo, California and educated in public schools, Assemblymember Laird graduated from Adlai Stevenson College at UC Santa Cruz in 1972 with an A.B. in Politics, with honors. He was a regular editorial page columnist for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, wrote for the UCSC "Student Guide", and for the five years hosted a weekly public affairs show on KUSP radio, the local NPR affiliate.