Scott Wilk

Scott Wilk
Minority Leader of the California Senate
In office
January 20, 2021 – December 5, 2022
Preceded byShannon Grove
Succeeded byBrian Jones
Member of the California Senate
from the 21st district
Assumed office
December 5, 2016
Preceded bySharon Runner
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 38th district
In office
December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2016
Preceded byCameron Smyth
Succeeded byDante Acosta
Personal details
Born
Scott Thomas Wilk Sr.

(1959-03-16) March 16, 1959 (age 65)
Lancaster, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseVanessa Safoyan (1985–present)
Children2
EducationCalifornia State University, Bakersfield (BA)

Scott Thomas Wilk Sr. (born March 16, 1959) is an American politician who served as the California State Senate minority leader from January 20, 2021 until December 5, 2022.[1] He is a Republican representing the 21st district, encompassing Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served two terms in the California State Assembly. He was also a College of the Canyons Trustee.

Background[edit]

Wilk earned his B.A. in political science from California State University, Bakersfield. He has served on the board of directors of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee. He is a member of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Granada Hills Rotary Club.

Wilk was appointed to the Santa Clarita College District Board of Trustees on August 23, 2006. He was re-elected in November 2007 and November 2011. He also worked as a small business owner, ran a communications firm, and was a former legislative staffer.[2]

Career[edit]

California State Assembly[edit]

Wilk was elected to represent the 38th Assembly District on November 5, 2012. He received 56.9% of the vote. Wilk was re-elected in 2014, receiving 66.3% of the vote. While in the Assembly, Wilk served on the following committees: Budget Committee (Sub 4 - State Administration), the Governmental Organization Committee, and the Joint Committee on Arts.

While in the Assembly, Wilk was the principal co-author of the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act[citation needed]. He also co-authored a $420 million tax incentive that helped land a $60 billion aerospace contract expected to create 6,500 new jobs in the High Desert[citation needed]. In 2014, Scott was selected by the non-partisan, non-profit State Legislative Leaders Foundation to attend the Emerging Leaders Program held at the University of Virginia[citation needed].

California State Senate[edit]

In California State Senate, Wilk is well known for working across the aisle to find meaningful solutions to state's pressing problems. He is a Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and is an Appointee to the Little Hoover Commission. He is also the Vice-Chair of the Committees on Governmental Organization, Labor, Public Employment & Retirement and Judiciary. He also serves on the Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee, as well as the Committees on Education and Energy, Utilities & Communications. Wilk is also a member of the Legislative Joint Audit Committee, Joint Committee on Rules and the Joint Committee on Arts and Entertainment. In addition, he is a member of the Select Committee on California, Armenia & Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art & Cultural Exchange, the California Wine Industry Select Committee and the Select Committee on Manufactured Homes Communities. [3] On January 20, 2021, Wilk was elected as the Senate Republican Leader.[4]

Elections[edit]

2014 California State Assembly[edit]

California's 38th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Wilk (incumbent) 32,550 66.9
Democratic Jorge Salomon Fuentes 16,082 33.1
Total votes 48,632 100.0
General election
Republican Scott Wilk (incumbent) 63,249 66.3
Democratic Jorge Salomon Fuentes 32,095 33.7
Total votes 95,344 100.0
Republican hold

2012 California State Assembly[edit]

California State Assembly election, 2012
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Wilk 20,230 32.1
Democratic Edward Headington 19,608 31.1
Republican Patricia McKeon 14,025 22.2
Republican Paul B. Strickland 9,182 14.6
Total votes 63,045 100.0
General election
Republican Scott Wilk 100,069 56.9
Democratic Edward Headington 75,864 43.1
Total votes 175,933 100.0
Republican hold

Endorsements[edit]

Unlike many Republicans, Wilk has garnered endorsements from organized labor.[5] He has received an endorsement from AFSCME Local 3299 (American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees) and from other organizations such as the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR), California Professional Firefighters, California ProLife Council, Gun Owners of California, National Rifle Association, PawPAC - California's Political Action Committee for Animals, and Peace Officers Research Association of California.[6]

In 2020, Wilk was endorsed by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, a news media organization owned by Richard Budman and his wife, Chris.[7] In 2021, ''The Signal listed Wilk at Number 1 on its list of Santa Clarita Valley's most influential people.

Personal life[edit]

Wilk and his wife, Vanessa, reside in Santa Clarita with their two dogs.[8] They have two adult children, Scott, Jr. and Alison.[8]

Wilk's wife, Vanessa, is a district director for California State Assembly member Tom Lackey. She is also the chair of the City of Santa Clarita's Arts Commission[9] and a member of the board of directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jennewein, Chris (December 5, 2022). "Brian Jones Elected State Senate Minority Leader, Increasing San Diego Area's Clout". Times of San Diego. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "COC incumbents beat challengers". www.signalscv.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-19.
  3. ^ "Senate Leader Atkins Announces Committee Membership for the 2023-2024 Legislative Session". January 5, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita selected as state Senate Republican leader". Los Angeles Daily News. City News Service. January 21, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  5. ^ White, Jeremy B. (January 20, 2021). "Wilk replaces Grove as California Senate GOP leader". Politico. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Endorse Scott Wilk for State Senate". Scott Wilk For State Senate. 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  7. ^ Signal Editorial Board (September 19, 2020). "Our View | Our Endorsements for Legislature". The Santa Clara Valley Signal. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "About". Scott Wilk For State Senate. 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  9. ^ "Arts Commission". City of Santa Clarita. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "Board of Directors". Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging and SCV Senior Center.

External links[edit]

California Senate
Preceded by Minority Leader of the California Senate
2021–2022
Succeeded by