Tom Lackey

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Tom Lackey
Member of the California Assembly
Assumed office
December 1, 2014
Preceded bySteve Fox
Constituency36th district (2014–2022)
34th district (2022–present)
Member of the Palmdale City Council
In office
December, 2005 – December 2014
Personal details
Born
Thomas W. Lackey

(1959-03-12) March 12, 1959 (age 65)
Boron, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLinda Lackey
Children2
Residence(s)Palmdale, California, U.S.
Alma materUtah State University (B.A.)
OccupationPolitician
Teacher
Law Enforcement Officer
Websitehttps://ad36.asmrc.org http://lackeyforassembly.com

Thomas W. Lackey (born March 12, 1959) is an American teacher, law enforcement officer and politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Republican representing the 34th district, encompassing parts of Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Mojave Desert including Barstow and Twentynine Palms to the Nevada state line. Prior to being elected to the state assembly, he served on the Palmdale Elementary School Board and the Palmdale City Council.

Background[edit]

Tom Lackey grew up in the small town of Boron, California, where his father was a dentist. In high school, Lackey became an Eagle Scout and was active in student government. He later received a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Utah State University after spending two years on an overseas missionary trip.[1] After graduating, Lackey became an elementary school special education teacher. Eventually, Lackey would go from the classroom to a career in law enforcement, spending 28 years as an officer with the California Highway Patrol.[2]

Lackey began his career in local elected office as a Trustee for the Palmdale Elementary School Board.[2] He later was elected to the Palmdale City Council in 2005.[3] While a City Councilman, Lackey served as a city appointee to the California Contract Cities Association, the Antelope Valley Crime Task Force, Antelope Valley Transit Authority Board, and the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force.[4] In 2012, Lackey ran for the California State Assembly, but was defeated in the primary by Lancaster City Councilman Ron Smith, who lost the general election in an upset. In 2014, Lackey was elected to the California State Assembly representing the 36th Assembly District.[2]

California State Assembly[edit]

In 2014, Lackey announced he planned to run for 36th California State Assembly District against the incumbent Steve Fox who was considered one of the most vulnerable democrats in the legislature.[5] The race was one of the costliest of the 2014 elections with both campaigns and independent expenditures spending a combined $2.2 million.[6] Lackey defeated Fox with 60% of the vote to Fox's 40%. He was sworn into office on December 5, 2014. Lackey began his term by declining a pay increase that was approved for Legislators' salaries. He was one of six Assembly members to decline the raise.[7] Lackey authored a roadside "drug breathalyzer" bill, Assembly Bill 1356[8] that was rejected by state legislators "...in large part because THC levels are not good indicators of intoxication..."[9] Lackey also co-authored the bi-partisan and historic Medical Marijuana Safety and Regulation Act (AB 266) in 2015. Part of a package of laws intended to create a statewide framework for regulating medical marijuana. Part of the law is aimed at addressing the proliferation of drugged driving in California and is funding a study at UC San Diego to create tools to recognize marijuana-impairment in drivers.[10][11]

The California Police Chiefs Association named Lackey their 2015 Legislator of the Year for his promotion of public safety and his efforts to curb driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.[12] He also received the 2015 Legislator of Year award from the special education advocacy group “Easter Seals" organization[13] for his leadership in successfully advocating for increased funding for special needs Californians.[14]

In the Assembly, Lackey serves as Vice Chair of the Local Government Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and on the committees on Accountability and Administrative Review, Aging & Long-Term Care, Budget and Government Organization.[15]

Elections[edit]

California State Assembly election, 2012
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Smith 15,097 35.1
Democratic Steve Fox 14,160 32.9
Republican Tom Lackey 13,795 32.0
Total votes 43,052 100.0
General election
Democratic Steve Fox 66,005 50.1
Republican Ron Smith 65,860 49.9
Total votes 131,865 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey 15,095 41.1
Democratic Steve Fox (incumbent) 12,055 32.8
Republican JD Kennedy 4,460 12.2
Republican Suzette M. Martinez 3,390 9.2
Democratic Kermit F. Franklin 1,706 4.6
Total votes 36,706 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey 42,107 60.2
Democratic Steve Fox (incumbent) 27,866 39.8
Total votes 69,973 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 35,019 48.2
Democratic Steve Fox 21,541 29.6
Democratic Darren W. Parker 11,236 15.5
Democratic Ollie M. McCaulley 4,891 6.7
Total votes 72,687 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 77,801 53.1
Democratic Steve Fox 68,755 46.9
Total votes 146,556 100.0
Republican hold
California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 35,628 60.3
Democratic Steve Fox 23,447 39.7
Total votes 59,075 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 66,584 52.1
Democratic Steve Fox 61,310 47.9
Total votes 127,894 100.0
Republican hold
California State Assembly election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 45,255 53.0
Democratic Steve Fox 14,771 17.3
Democratic Johnathon Ervin 6,615 7.8
Democratic Diedra M. Greenaway 5,084 6.0
Democratic Michael P. Rives 4,055 4.7
Democratic Ollie M. McCaulley 3,729 4.4
Democratic Lourdes Everett 3,405 4.0
Democratic Eric Andrew Ohlsen 2,440 2.9
Total votes 85,354 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 102,442 55.2%
Democratic Steve Fox 83,240 44.8%
Total votes 185,682 100.0%
Republican hold
California State Assembly election, 2022
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thurston Smith (incumbent) 23,663 31.1
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 22,622 29.7
Democratic Rita Ramirez Dean 20,384 26.8
Democratic Raj Kahlon 4,063 5.3
Republican Paul Fournier 3,189 4.2
No party preference Roger LaPlante 2,122 2.8
Total votes 76,043 100%
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 63,840 56.5
Republican Thurston Smith (incumbent) 49,183 43.5
Total votes 113,023 100%
Republican hold

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lackey for Assembly".
  2. ^ a b c "Biography". Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  3. ^ AV Times Staff (January 22, 2013). "Lackey selected as Mayor Pro Tem". Antelope Valley Times.
  4. ^ https://www.senate.ca.gov/sites/senate.ca.gov/files/2017-18_joint_legislative_handbook_resized_0.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "UPDATE: Palmdale City Councilman, incumbent to vie for Assembly seat".
  6. ^ "See the 20 most expensive political campaigns in California".
  7. ^ Fleming, Matt (26 February 2016). "Some legislators proudly refuse pay increases".
  8. ^ "Lackey's roadside "drug breathalyzer" bill rejected". The Antelope Valley Times. May 5, 2015.
  9. ^ O'Neil, Stephanie (host) (1 September 2016). "How can you tell if a driver is stoned?". From Gold to Green. 89.3 KPCC.
  10. ^ "New Medical Marijuana Laws to Tackle Drugged Driving (DUID)". ad36.asmrc.org. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  11. ^ Tribune, San Diego Union (17 April 2016). "State asks UCSD to find ways to detect stoned drivers".
  12. ^ "Police Chiefs Honor Assemblymember Tom Lackey With Legislator of the Year Award".
  13. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". www.easterseals.com.
  14. ^ "Easter Seals Names State Senator Mitchell and Assembly Member Lackey as 2016 Legislative Award Honorees".
  15. ^ "Meet Tom".

External links[edit]