Michael Villines has been in the California State Assembly since 2004. He represents the 29th district. He succeeded Steve Samuelian who retired after one term due to ethical issues. The 29th Assembly District consists of Clovis, Fresno, Hume Lake, Madera, Orange Cove and Shaver Lake. The California State Assembly chamber California State Assembly Chamber in the State Capitol The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. ... Pollasky Avenue, Old Town Clovis Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, adjacent to the larger city of Fresno. ... Nickname: Fresno, the All American City & Raisin Capital of the World Location in the state of California County Fresno  - Mayor Alan Autry Area    - City 271. ... Madera is the county seat of Madera County, California. ... Orange Cove is a city located in Fresno County, California. ... Shaver Lake is a census-designated place located in Fresno County, California. ...

Republican Leader

Villines was chosen by his colleagues in November 2006 as the third Assembly Republican Leader of the year. He succeeded George A. Plescia of La Jolla. Plescia had succeeded Kevin McCarthy who stepped down to make a successful run for Congress. George A. Plescia George A. Plescia (pronounced: Plesha) is a Republican politician from the state of California. ... One of the beaches at La Jolla Cove La Jolla, California, is a seaside resort community comprised of 42,808[1] residents within the city of San Diego. ... Kevin McCarthy For other people named Kevin McCarthy, see Kevin McCarthy. ...

Villines serves as chief negotiator for Assembly Republicans, crafting solutions to the critical problems facing California. He is a member of the "Big 5" group of legislative leaders that includes Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, and Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez. Final agreements on such important issues as how to balance the budget are reached during "Big 5" meetings. Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Big Five is an informal institution of California state government, consisting of the governor, the Assembly speaker, the Assembly minority leader, the Senate president pro tempore, and the Senate minority leader. ... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): ) (born on July 30, 1947, in Graz, Austria) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor and an American politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of California. ... Don Perata (born April 30, 1945) is a California Democratic politician, who is the current President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate. ... Dick Ackerman Richard Charles Ackerman (born December 5, 1942) is a Republican U.S. politician, who is currently the California State Senate Minority Leader. ... Fabian Núñez (D- 46th District) is the Speaker of the California State Assembly. ...

Priorities and Recognition

Improving California’s business climate, reducing the tax burden on hard-working families and restoring common-sense solutions and accountability to state government are Assemblyman Villines’ top legislative priorities. Villines has been named an “Emerging Leader” by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Orange County Register recently recognized his fiscal discipline stating, “it’s good to see somebody, at least, is sticking up for the taxpayers and insisting on a balanced budget.”

Background

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Villines served as an aide to former Gov. Pete Wilson, first as an advance representative coordinating the Governor’s media appearances, and later as an appointee to the Department of Fish and Game implementing the Governor’s legislative and policy agenda for reforming burdensome environmental issues. He also served as chief of staff to former State Sen. Chuck Poochigian, and most recently owned his own small business.

Education

Villines is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, and holds a BA degree in political science. The campus on a sunny day California State University, Fresno, commonly referred to as Fresno State, is one of the campuses of California State University, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA. The campus sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the San Joaquin... Political science is the field of the social sciences concerning the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. ...

Personal

He and his wife Christina live in Clovis with their three children.

External Links

• Dan Walters: Samuelian brought baggage to Capitol, and it has spilled open
• Steve Samuelian's Swan Song.