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Tony Strickland
	Tony Strickland
	Member of the California State Senate; from the 19th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; December 1, 2008
Preceded by	Tom McClintock
Member of the California State Assembly; from the 37th district
	In office; December 7, 1998 – November 30, 2004
Preceded by	Nao Takasugi
Succeeded by	Audra Strickland
Born	February 17, 1970 (age 39); Fort Ord, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Audra Strickland
Alma mater	Whittier College
Profession	Politician,
Religion	Christian

Anthony A. "Tony" Strickland (born February 17, 1970) is a California State Senator, representing the 19th District. Strickland is a member of the Republican Party and a former Assemblyman, representing the 37th District from 1998 to 2004.

[edit] Early life

Strickland was born at Fort Ord, California, when his father, Don, was stationed there as a soldier in the United States Army. Don Strickland met his wife, Antonie, when he was stationed in Germany. Don and Antonie Strickland moved to Ventura County with their son Tony in 1973.

Tony Strickland earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science at Whittier College, where he earned the Leadership and Service Award and was a Nixon Scholar.

From 1996-1997, Strickland served as Chief of Staff to then-Assemblyman Tom McClintock (now a Congressman).

Strickland married his wife, California assemblywoman Audra Strickland, on October 12, 1997. They have one daughter, Ruby Ruth, and one son, Anthony Paul.

[edit] Assembly career

Strickland was first elected to the Assembly in 1998 with 49% of the vote in a three-way race.^[1] He was re-elected in 2000 with 51% of the vote again in a three-way race.^[2] He was re-elected to a third term with 63.1% of the vote in 2002.^[3]

During his time in the Assembly, Strickland was Chairman of the Assembly Republican Caucus, the second-highest ranking position for a Republican in the Assembly. During his three terms, he was also Vice Chairman of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee and was also a member of the Assembly Committees on Banking and Finance; Elections, Redistricting, and Constitutional Amendments; Higher Education; and Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media;. In addition, he served on the Assembly Republican Education Reform Task Force, which developed a number of education reform proposals that were rejected.

Term limits prevented Strickland from seeking a fourth term in 2004, so Audra Strickland ran for the Assembly seat and won the seat (as well as reelection in 2006 and 2008).

[edit] 2006 Campaign for State Controller

In his 2006 Strickland ran for State Controller. He won 40.7% of the vote in a four-way primary, besting Abel Maldonado, his nearest opponent, who received 37.0% of the vote.^[4] Strickland was defeated by John Chiang in the general election by a 50.7%-40.2% margin.^[5]

[edit] Senate career

Strickland ran in California's 19th district against the Democratic nominee, former state Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson. Senate District 19 includes areas of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties. The race was highly competitive and the closest state Senate race in California that year. Jackson conceded just five days before Strickland was sworn in to the Senate. He had won the election by 900 votes.

With Tony Strickland's 2008 election to the State Senate and his wife, Audra, simultaneously winning reelection to the State Assembly, the Stricklands became the second husband and wife to serve concurrently in the California State Legislature (after Senator George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner).

[edit] References