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Thomas W. Lackey (born March 12, 1959) is an American teacher, law enforcement officer and
politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
currently serving in the
California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...
. He is a Republican representing the 34th district, encompassing parts of
Antelope Valley The Antelope Valley is a valley primarily located in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States and the southeast portion of Kern County, California, Kern County, and constitutes the western tip of the Mojave Desert. It is situated ...
,
Victor Valley The Victor Valley is a valley in the Mojave Desert and subregion of the Inland Empire, in San Bernardino County in Southern California. It is located east of the Mojave's Antelope Valley, north of the Cajon Pass and the San Bernardino Valley, n ...
, the
San Bernardino Mountains The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in the United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at at San Gorgonio Mountain ...
, and the High Desert including Barstow and Twentynine Palms to the
Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
state line. Prior to being elected to the state assembly, he served on the
Palmdale Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the Antelope Valley of Southern California. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles Basin to the south. On August 24, 1962 ...
Elementary
School Board A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...
and the
Palmdale Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the Antelope Valley of Southern California. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles Basin to the south. On August 24, 1962 ...
City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...
.


Background

Tom Lackey grew up in the small town of
Boron, California Boron (formerly Amargo, Baker, Borate, and Kern) is a unincorporated place in Kern County, California, United States. Boron is southwest of Red Rock Mountain at an elevation of . For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defi ...
, where his father was a
dentist A dentist, also known as a dental doctor, dental physician, dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry, the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. The dentist's supporting team aids in provi ...
. In high school, Lackey became an
Eagle Scout Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of Scouting America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout rank has been earned by over ...
and was active in student government. He later received a
Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
in Special Education from
Utah State University Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public university, public land grant colleges, land-grant research university with its main campus in Logan, Utah, United States. Founded in 1888 under the Morrill Land-Grant Acts as Utah's federal ...
after spending two years on an overseas missionary trip. 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 The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the principal state police agency for the U.S. state of California. The CHP has primary jurisdiction, including patrol and Criminal investigation, investigations, over all California Controlled-access highw ...
. Lackey began his career in local elected office as a Trustee for the
Palmdale Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the Antelope Valley of Southern California. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles Basin to the south. On August 24, 1962 ...
Elementary
School Board A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...
. He later was elected to the Palmdale City Council in 2005. 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. In 2012, Lackey ran for the
California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...
, but was defeated in the primary by
Lancaster Lancaster may refer to: Lands and titles *The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire *Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies *Duke of Lancaster *Earl of Lancaster *House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty ...
City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...
man 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.


California State Assembly

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. The race was one of the costliest of the 2014 elections with both campaigns and independent expenditures spending a combined $2.2 million. 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. Lackey authored a roadside "drug breathalyzer" bill, Assembly Bill 1356 that was rejected by state legislators "...in large part because THC levels are not good indicators of intoxication..." 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 The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego in communications material, formerly and colloquially UCSD) is a public land-grant research university in San Diego, California, United States. Established in 1960 near the pre-existing Sc ...
to create tools to recognize marijuana-impairment in drivers. 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. He also received the 2015 Legislator of Year award from the special education advocacy group “Easter Seals" organization for his leadership in successfully advocating for increased funding for special needs Californians. 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.


Elections


References


External links

*
Campaign website

Official Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lackey, Tom 1959 births 21st-century members of the California State Legislature California city council members Living people People from Kern County, California People from Palmdale, California Republican Party members of the California State Assembly Utah State University alumni