Tony Thurmond

Tony Thurmond
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 15th district
Assumed office
December 1, 2014
Preceded by Nancy Skinner
Personal details
Born (1968-08-21) August 21, 1968
Monterey, California
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Children 2 daughters
Residence Richmond, California
Alma mater Temple University (BA)
Bryn Mawr College (LL.M) (MSW)
Religion Judaism
Website Official website

Tony K. Thurmond is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represents the 15th Assembly District, which encompasses the northern East Bay.

Thurmond is a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus, California Legislative Black Caucus, and California Legislative Jewish Caucus. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2014, he was a member of the Richmond City Councilmember, a Board Member of the West Contra Costa Unified School District, and social services administrator.

Early life and education

Thurmond was born in Monterey, California and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Temple University (B.A. in Psychology), where he was student body president. He earned dual master's degrees in Law and Social Policy and Social Work (MSW) from Bryn Mawr College.

Elective office

Thurmond’s first experience in elective office was as president of the student body at Temple University. Before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2014, Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa School Board from 2008 to 2012 and the Richmond City Council from 2005 to 2008. Thurmond was the council liaison to the West Contra Costa County Unified School District and the West Contra Costa County Education Fund. He was a member of the Family and Children's Trust Committee of Contra Costa County.

Thurmond ran first for the District 15 Assembly seat in 2008, coming in second out of four candidates. He ran again in 2014, this time winning 54.3% of the vote. Thurmond is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus. [1] California Latino Legislative Caucus,[2] and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.[3]

2014 California State Assembly

California's 15th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elizabeth Echols 21,664 31.1
Democratic Tony Thurmond 16,963 24.4
Democratic Pamela Price 11,898 17.1
Republican Rich Kinney 7,531 10.8
Democratic Sam Kang 4,630 6.7
Democratic Clarence Hunt 3,329 4.8
Peace and Freedom Eugene E. Ruyle 2,426 3.5
No party preference Bernt Rainer Wahl 1,132 1.6
Total votes 69,573 100.0
General election
Democratic Tony Thurmond 66,661 54.3
Democratic Elizabeth Echols 56,071 45.7
Total votes 122,732 100.0
Democratic hold

2016 California State Assembly candidacy

California's 15th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tony Thurmond (incumbent) 124,136 91.1
Republican Claire Chiara 12,083 8.9
Total votes 136,219 100.0
General election
Republican Claire Chiara
Democratic Tony Thurmond (incumbent)
Total votes ' '

Social service leadership

Thurmond has held leadership positions with several nonprofit social service organizations. In the mid-2000s, Thurmond was the Executive Director of Beyond Emancipation, a social service agency providing aftercare services to youths leaving the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Alameda County. At the Golden Gate Regional Center, he was a program manager leading service provision to individuals with developmental disabilities. In 2012 he began to serve as the Senior Director of Community and Government Relations at Lincoln Child Center. Much of his social service work has focused on improving service provision to current and former foster youth and directing educational programs that provided job training to at-risk youth in the East Bay area.[4]

Thurmond has served as an advisor to the Richmond Youth Commission. He was chair of Richmond's 2005 Summer Youth Program which employed 200 local teens. In recognition of his social service leadership, Thurmond has been a Fellow in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Children and Family Fellowship program.

State Assembly committees

Thurmond’s State Assembly committee assignments reflect his legislative priorities, informed by his prior public service, nonprofit social service leadership and academic training.[5]

Select committees

  • Regional Planning in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chair
  • Civic Engagement
  • Expanding Access to California’s Natural Resources
  • Homelessness
  • Improving Bay Area Transportation Systems
  • Mental and Behavioral Health and Proposition 63 Implementation
  • Status of Boys and Men of Color
  • Status of Girls and Women of Color

Personal life

Thurmond lives in Richmond, California. He has two daughters.

References

  1. ↑ "California Legislative Black Caucus,". Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  2. ↑ "California Latino Legislative Caucus". Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "California Legislative Jewish Caucus". Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "CA Assembly District 15". Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  5. ↑ "CA Assembly District 15". Retrieved January 17, 2015.
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