Meet Assemblymember Steve Bennett
I am honored to have been elected to represent the people of the 37th Assembly District, which includes the Southern half of Santa Barbara County, as well as the western third of Ventura County.
I look forward to bringing my experience serving on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. For two decades, I led the efforts that ended the county’s structural budget deficit and grew reserves from 0% of the budget to 13% of the budget, and improved our bond rating to the highest possible. Prior to this, I was an Economics and American History high school teacher and administrator for over twenty years. It is through this experience and my educational background, a graduate from Brown University with an Honors Degree in Economics, that I hope to draw from as I work with our local partners to create or support meaningful policy for our small business community.
Some of my committee assignments include Budget, Education, Elections, Privacy, and Consumer Protections, and Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation.
Addressing climate change and the negative effects of growing income inequality are among my top legislative priorities. It is a critical time to tackle these issues as they are at the root of the challenges the central coast region faces, including those of our local businesses and economy. In the last couple of years, our small businesses have greatly suffered from wildfires, the devastating debris flow and now the pandemic. Strengthening emergency preparedness policies, which stem from the issue of climate change, will be one of my focuses as it is good for our environment and will sustain our economy. It is important that we ensure our businesses have a strong foundation as they encounter natural disasters and know how to identify the support they will need as they seek economic recovery. Additionally, confronting the gaps in our communities by improving access to affordable housing and educational opportunities, especially in the midst of the pandemic, is essential as we tackle the growing trend of income inequality.
We have seen the devastating effects the pandemic has had on our small businesses this past year. My office continues to assist constituents in connecting them with resources or provide the latest updates for businesses struggling due to COVID-19. We can also provide casework assistance in assisting constituents with issues they may encounter with a state agency, the Employment Development Department included. Please feel free to reach out at (805) 564-1649 or write to me at Assemblymember.Bennett@assembly.ca.gov.
