California GOP Assemblywoman Audra Strickland and California GOP State Senator Tony Strickland with children Ruby Ruth and Anthony Paul

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.

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

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).

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.

The race was also contentious, with critics of Strickland upset at his alleged misrepresentations of his business background. On various campgain literature, the Strickland campaign portrayed Strickland as a vice president of Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC—even though Strickland has worked in politics his entire adult life, and Green Wave Energy Solutions LLC has not done any business in California.

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).

Biography

Tony is the youngest of 3 children. His mother, Antonie, emigrated to the United States from Germany and became a U.S. Citizen in 1971. His father, Don, was a career military soldier. They taught him the same values he hopes to impart to his children and that he strives to bring to public office—honesty, integrity, and hard work. Tony’s core philosophy that he brings to government is his belief in personal responsibility and creating an efficient, responsible government with low taxes that does not do for its citizenry that which they can do for themselves.

At home, Tony is a husband of 13 years to his wife, Audra, and a father to two children—Ruby Ruth and Anthony Paul.

As a member of the California State Senate, Senator Strickland’s top priority is growing California’s economy. He believes the best way to preserve funding for vital programs like healthcare, education, and transportation is by creating jobs. He is committed to working with Democrats and Republicans to craft fundamental reforms to California’s budget process that has brought an unacceptable crisis to the state.

As a business owner, Tony is Vice President of GreenWave Energy Solutions LLC, a company that seeks to harness the power of ocean waves to provide energy to Californians. He believes that California must transition to a renewable, more energy-efficient economy to jumpstart the economy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment, and lower energy prices. GreenWave recently received the United Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award for 2008 and Tony was recently featured on CNBC for his work with the company.

Prior to joining the Senate, Tony served in the California State Assembly for the maximum six years from 1998-2004. In the Assembly, Tony quickly established a reputation as a taxpayer advocate and a representative with the skills to reach independent solutions to make government more accountable. He championed policies to help the economy. He received an “A” grade from the Chamber of Commerce for legislation he authored and votes he cast to help create better, higher-paying jobs.

As a long time advocate for working California families, it was in the State Assembly that Strickland took the action he is perhaps best known for. He filed a law suit against then-Governor Gray Davis on behalf of energy rate-payers, which ultimately forced the Davis Administration to reveal outrageously expensive energy contracts it had negotiated in secret between the State of California and energy companies.

An active member of his community, Tony has been a Board Member of the Ventura County Council Boy Scouts of America, an Advisory Committee Member of Food Share, and an Honorary Board Member of the Moorpark Boys & Girls Club, in addition to being active in numerous civic, business and church organizations throughout Ventura County. Tony currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

In 2002, he was the recipient of the San Fernando Valley Business & Professional Association’s Free Enterprise Award, for championing economic policies that help create opportunities for working families, and was awarded the “Forty under 40” Award from the Pacific Coast Business Times.

Tony received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Whittier College. In 1992, Whittier College recognized Tony’s achievements by bestowing him with its Leadership and Service Award.

California State Senate District 19 includes portions of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties.

District

The 19th Senate District includes portions of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County. In Los Angeles County, the district incorporates Santa Clarita.

The Santa Barbara County portion of the 19th Senate District includes the City of Santa Barbara, Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, Isla Vista, Lompoc, Los Alamos, Mission Canyon, Mission Hills, Montecito, Orcutt, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Summerland, Toro Canyon, Vandenberg AFB, and Vandenberg Village.

The Ventura County portion of the 19th Senate District includes the City of Ventura, Camarillo, Casa Conejo, El Rio, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte, Moorpark, Oak Park, Ojai, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks