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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Short description|American politician (born 1957)}}
{{Like resume|date=January 2021}}{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Reggie Jones-Sawyer
|name = Reggie Jones-Sawyer
|image = Jones-Sawyer headshot.jpg
|image = Jones-Sawyer headshot.jpg
|alt =
|alt =
|office = Member of the [[California State Assembly|California Assembly]]
|state_assembly = California
|district = [[California's 59th State Assembly district|59th]]
|constituency = [[California's 59th State Assembly district|59th district]] (2012–2022)<br>[[California's 57th State Assembly district|57th district]] (2022–present)
|term_start = December 3, 2012
|term_start = December 3, 2012
|term_end =
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Tim Donnelly (politician)|Tim Donnelly]] ''(redistricted)''
|predecessor = [[Tim Donnelly (politician)|Tim Donnelly]] ''(redistricted)''
|successor =
|successor =
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|01|14}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|01|14}}
|birth_place = [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], U.S.
Line 17: Line 18:
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse =
|spouse =
|children = 3
|children = Lauren McNally (Jones-Sawyer), Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Jr., and Evan Jones-Sawyer
|residence = [[South Los Angeles]], [[California]]
|residence = [[South Los Angeles]], [[California]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Southern California]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])}}
|alma_mater = [[University of Southern California]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])}}
Line 25: Line 26:
|website =
|website =
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
|relatives = [[Jefferson Thomas]] (uncle)
}}
}}


'''Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr.''', (born January 14, 1957) is an American [[politician]] currently serving in the [[California State Assembly]]. He is a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] representing the [[California's 59th State Assembly district|59th Assembly District]], which encompasses portions of [[South Central Los Angeles]], the neighborhoods of [[Florence-Graham, California|Florence-Graham]] and [[Walnut Park, California|Walnut Park]], and a part of [[Huntington Park, California|Huntington Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asmdc.org/members/a59/about/biography|title=Biography - Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer Representing the 59th California Assembly District}}</ref>
'''Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr.''' (born January 14, 1957) is an American politician who served in the [[California State Assembly]] since 2012. Representing the [[California's 59th State Assembly district|59th district]] from 2012 to 2022 and the [[California's 57th State Assembly district|57th district]] from 2022 to 2024, Jones-Sawyer was a member of the [[California Legislative Black Caucus]] and served as chair of the caucus from 2015 to 2016. In 2023, he announced his candidacy for the [[Los Angeles City Council]] for the [[2024 Los Angeles elections]], which he placed 5th out of five candidates in the primary.


== Early life and education ==
Jones-Sawyer is a member of the [[California Legislative Black Caucus]], and served as Chair from 2015-2016. Before being elected to the Assembly in 2012, he was [[Mayor of Los Angeles|Assistant Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles]]. Jones-Sawyer terms out of the Assembly in December 2024. Jones-Sawyer announced in February 2023 that he is running for the City of Los Angeles Council District 10 seat.
Jones-Sawyer was born in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]] on January 14, 1957. His uncle, [[Jefferson Thomas]], was one of the "Little Rock Nine" high school students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/news/2020/06/12/california-assemblymember-shares-connection-to-little-rock-nine-#|title=California Assemblymember Shares Connection to Little Rock Nine |date=June 12, 2020|author=Sandoval, Sarina|website=Spectrum News 1}}</ref> He attended and graduated from the [[University of Southern California]], earning a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree degree in Public Administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11948198/examining-reparations-and-the-historical-harms-of-slavery-and-racism-in-california|title=Mini-Documentary: California's Reparations Task Force on the Foundation for Lasting Reparative Justice|author=Taylor Jr., Otis R.|date=May 2, 2023|website=[[KQED-FM|KQED]]}}</ref>


== Political career ==
Members of the Jones-Sawyer family were early pioneers in the civil rights movement. His uncle, [[Jefferson Thomas]], was one of the "[[Little Rock Nine]]" high school students.
Prior to his election to the [[California State Assembly]], Jones-Sawyer worked for the City of [[Los Angeles]], including as Director of Asset Management and Assistant Deputy Mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/la-pol-ca-double-dipping-california-legislator-pensions-20180404-htmlstory.html|title=These 14 California legislators are getting two government checks a month|date=April 4, 2018|author=McGreevy, Patrick|website=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref> He also served as the Secretary of the [[California Democratic Party]], Chair of the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, Chair of the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission, and Vice President for SEIU's Local 721 within the Los Angeles Professional Managers Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasentinel.net/bernie-sanders-calls-out-deceptive-pro-efren-martinez-mailer.html|title=BERNIE SANDERS CALLS OUT DECEPTIVE PRO-EFREN MARTINEZ MAILER|date=October 15, 2020|website=[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytrojan.com/2023/10/20/usc-area-lawmakers-talk-student-issues/|title=USC-area lawmakers talk student issues|date=October 20, 2023|author=Gamson, Benjamin|website=[[Daily Trojan]]}}</ref>


Jones-Sawyer was elected to the State Assembly in 2012, being re-elected five more times until 2022; he was twice re-elected without any opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2022/05/28/election-2022-reggie-jones-sawyer-runs-unopposed-for-57th-assembly-district-reelection/|title= Election 2022: Reggie Jones-Sawyer runs unopposed for 57th Assembly District reelection |date=May 28, 2022|author=Evains, Tyler Shaun|website=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref> In 2014, he was fined for campaign violations, admitting that he accepted campaign contributions from a friend that was over the limit of contributions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-two-calif-state-lawmakers-fined-for-campaign-violations-20140606-story.html|title=Two Calif. state lawmakers fined for campaign violations|date=June 9, 2014|author=McGreevy, Patrick|website=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref> In 2021, Jones-Sawyer sought to change the statewide entry requirements for police officers with AB89, which would've required at least a bachelor's degree or at least 25 years of age before entering a [[police academy]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Koseff|first=Alexei|date=2021-01-04|title=California considers requiring police recruits to finish college or setting minimum age of 25|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-could-require-police-recruits-to-15842180.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-05|website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life and education==


In 2023, Jones-Sawyer announced that he would be challenging appointed incumbent councilor [[Heather Hutt]] in the [[2024 Los Angeles elections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2023/02/17/they-know-the-way-from-sacramento-to-l-a-00083399|title=They know the way from Sacramento to L.A.|date=February 17, 2023|website=[[Politico]]|author=White, Jeremy B.}}</ref> He was eliminated in the primary.
Jones-Sawyer earned his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in Public Administration from the [[University of Southern California]] and has been an active member of the Alumni Association and past President of the Black Alumni Association; he also completed the prestigious Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government's Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.


Jones-Sawyer is a member of the [[California Legislative Progressive Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislative Progressive Caucus |url=https://www.assembly.ca.gov/offices-caucuses/legislative-progressive-caucus |website=assembly.ca.gov |publisher=California State Assembly |access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>
==Early career==


== Electoral history ==
Jones-Sawyer's history of public service includes serving as Director of Asset Management for the City of [[Los Angeles]], Assistant Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles, Chair of the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission, Vice President of SEIU's (Local 721) Los Angeles Professional Managers Association, and statewide Secretary of the California Democratic Party.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Reggie Jones-Sawyer}}
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Year
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Office
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=3 | Primary
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=3 | General
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Result
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | [[Swing (politics)|Swing]]
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Total
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | %
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{abbr|P|Position}}.
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Total
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | %
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{abbr|P|Position}}.
|-
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[2012 California State Assembly election#District 59|2012]]
| rowspan=5 | [[California State Assembly|State Assembly]]
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=5 |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 7,029
| 43.6%
| 1st
| 36,949
| 52.3%
| 1st
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[2014 California State Assembly election#District 59|2014]]
| 12,404
| 100.00%
| 1st
| 28,493
| 100.00%
| 1st
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[2016 California State Assembly election#District 59|2016]]
| 35,820
| 100.00%
| 1st
| 77,325
| 100.00%
| 1st
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[2018 California State Assembly election#District 59|2018]]
| 19,188
| 76.8%
| 1st
| 47,765
| 66.9%
| 1st
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[2020 California State Assembly election#District 59|2020]]
| 19,873
| 44.9%
| 2nd
| 63,448
| 57.5%
| 1st
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[2024 Los Angeles elections#District 10|2024]]
| [[Los Angeles City Council|City Council]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Nonpartisan}};" |
| [[Nonpartisan blanket primary|Nonpartisan]]
| 2,102
| 5.92%
| 5th
| colspan=3 {{n/a|Did not advance}}
| {{no2|Lost}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|None}};" |
| '''N/A'''
|}


== References ==
While working for the [[City of Los Angeles]], Jones-Sawyer helped transform the city's complicated and complex permit development bureaucratic system into a more "customer-friendly" agency that expedited the processing of many huge developments, including the building of the Magic Johnson Theater (now the Rave) in [[Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles|Baldwin Hills]]) and the [[Staples Center Arena]].
{{reflist}}

==Legislative career==

Jones-Sawyer has authored or co-authored legislation including: AB 672 that provides re-entry assistance - like housing and job training - for persons that have been wrongfully convicted and consequently released from state prison; AB 266 that provides proper regulatory oversight of the cultivation, manufacture, transportation, storage distribution and sale of medical marijuana; and AB1012 that prohibits school districts from assigning any student to a course period without educational content, a.k.a., Fake Classes bills.

In the Legislature, Jones-Sawyer is Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee and serves on the following standing committees: Higher Education Committee, Government Organization Committee, and the Agriculture Committee. He is Chair of the Select Committee on Urban Planning and Land Use in Underserved Communities, and Co-Chair of the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color.

Jones-Sawyer recognized the devastation the School-to-Prison-Pipeline posed for underserved communities like those in his district, which has high incarceration rates for African Americans and Latinos in particular. That is why as Chair of the Public Safety subcommittee, he led the way to secure nearly $100 million for recidivism reduction grants. For the first time since the great recession, millions of dollars in grants were made available to service providers to help turn-around the lives of the formally incarcerated so that they could become productive residents in their communities. His subcommittee also has the enormous responsibility of overseeing the entire budget for the state's court system. Partnering with the Chief Justice and working with judges throughout the state, he helped to restored over $300 million to the court system after a decade of devastating budget cuts.

Jones-Sawyer also served as Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus from 2014-2016.

In 2021, Jones-Sawyer sought to change the statewide entry requirements for police officers with AB89, which would've required at least a bachelor's degree or at least 25 years of age before entering a [[police academy]]. He argued that research suggested that people's brains don't fully mature until they're at least 25 years old. This argument has been used as a basis for a law in 2017, allowing those under 26 years old with lengthy prison sentences to pursue a special parole program.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Koseff|first=Alexei|date=2021-01-04|title=California considers requiring police recruits to finish college or setting minimum age of 25|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-could-require-police-recruits-to-15842180.php|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-05|website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, Jones-Sawyer committee chair of Public Safety Committee, disapproved of Senate Bill 14, a bill that would include sex trafficking of a minor in the lists of crimes that are defined as serious under California law, making the crime a strike under the Three Strikes law. Jones-Sawyer said it would disproportionately affect “Black and Brown Communities.” Proponents of the bipartisan bill argued that over 70% of trafficked women in shelters are black and over 50% of children trafficked are black i.e. Figueroa St. Los Angeles. Jones-Sawyer argued, “there is no evidence that if you lock someone up for long periods of time, it helps them”. However, proponents of SB14 argued this is to protect victims and prevent repeat perpetrators from further trafficking.


===2014 California State Assembly ===
{{see also|California State Assembly elections, 2014}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[California's 59th State Assembly district]] election, 2014
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 12,404
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 12,404
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 28,493
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 28,493
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2016 California State Assembly ===
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2016}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[California's 59th State Assembly district]] election, 2016
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 35,820
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 35,820
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 77,324
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 77,324
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2018 California State Assembly ===
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2018}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[California's 59th State Assembly district]] election, 2018
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 19188
| percentage = 76.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Leslie Hagan-Morgan
| votes = 5797
| percentage = 23.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 24985
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 47765
| percentage = 66.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Leslie Hagan-Morgan
| votes = 23653
| percentage = 33.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 71418
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2020 California State Assembly<ref>{{Cite web |url-status=live |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522021101/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/complete-sov.pdf |title=Presidential Primary Election |date=Mar 3, 2020 |website= |language=en |access-date=21 August 2023 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/complete-sov.pdf |pages=25, 168}}</ref> ===

{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = 2020 [[California's 59th State Assembly district]] election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Efren Martinez
| votes = 22,416
| percentage = 50.6%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Reggie Jones-Sawyer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 19,873
| percentage = 44.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Marcello Villeda
| votes = 1,999
| percentage = 4.5%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Political philosophy==
In 2016, Jones-Sawyer discounted the applicability of the US Constitution to the law-making process in California. When legislating AB 1695 that year, he said in open session that "sometimes the legislature ignores whether or not [a bill] is constitutional or not, we go ahead and make laws because we're California, we do it anyway."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A|title=CA Legislature Doesn't Care About the Constitution}}</ref>

==Legislative history==

'''2013-14 Legislation'''

'''AB 392 – Efficiencies in State Government '''

Requires the Controller to determine the most cost-effective allocation method if $1,000 or less is appropriated for a program and would eliminate a duplicate reporting requirement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB392&search_keywords=|title=Bill Text - AB-392 State mandates: prorated claims.}}</ref>

'''AB 410 - Firefighters Retirement Health Benefits'''

Allows retired firefighters to reinstate employment without permanently losing retiree health care benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB410&search_keywords=|title=Bill Text - AB-410 Public employee health benefits: enrollment.}}</ref>

'''AB 436 – Inverse Condemnation'''

Expressly makes applicable the doctrine of comparative fault to litigation between a plaintiff property owner and a defendant governmental agency in inverse condemnation actions. In addition the bill would also expressly ensure that CCP Section 998 applies to governmental agencies in inverse actions in a fair and equitable manner consistent with the original purpose of the statute.

'''AB 450 – Direct Electoral Representation'''

Requires the governing board of the Los Angeles Community College District to establish trustee districts and that trustee board members then be elected by those districts.

'''AB 549 - Campus Safety/ Campus Mental Health'''

Requires school districts better define within their school safety plans the role of police on campus. It will also require school and school districts to prioritize campus safety funding for intervention workers, counselors, and other supportive mental health service providers.

'''AB 570 – Continuation Schools: Voluntary Placement'''

Requires school districts to establish and adopt policies and procedures for governing the identification, placement and intake procedures for pupils who voluntarily enroll in continuation schools.

'''AB 648 – Court Reporters'''

Establishes the requirement of a fee of $30 for each proceeding that lasts one hour or less in a civil action or case to offset the costs of the services of official court reporters in civil proceedings.

'''AB 752 – Work Furloughs: County Jails'''

Allows individuals who were sentenced to local supervision under realignment, to be served in a Work Furlough Program if the person is deemed suitable by the Work Furlough Administrator.

'''AB 805 – Pre Trial Report Clarification'''

Allows a judge or magistrate to take into consideration information included in a report prepared in accordance with Section 1318.1.

'''AB 870 – The Fair Chance Employment Act'''

Prohibits any persons or entities that contract with the State of California, from inquiring about the criminal history of a potential employee until after the initial employment application.

'''AB 915 – Youth Community Incentives Act'''

Allocates 75% of future savings from the state's shrinking youth correctional facilities, directly to counties in the form of a Youthful Offender Block Grant Part B, for the purpose of serving high-needs youth offenders locally.

'''AB 921 – Social Worker Empowerment Act'''

Allows social workers to be at the table when discussing improving the foster care system and contains whistleblower protection for social workers

'''AB 1062 – Cal HR Clean-up'''

Makes technical amendments to the Civil Service Act and one related Penal Code provision (regarding psychological screening of peace officers) to clarify the operating authority of CalHR as established by GRP 1 in order to support the reorganization and to permit greater efficiency and streamlining of operations now and in the future.

'''AB 1342 – Gaming Establishments'''

Creates an expedited process for applications for gambling establishments.

''' 2015-16 Legislation'''

'''AB 26, Medical Marijuana Regulations'''

Enacts the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Control Act and would create the Division of Medical Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

'''AB 167, I Poker'''

Establishes a framework for the authorization and regulation of internet poker (iPoker) within the state of California.

'''AB 224, Foster Youth Notice of Bill of Rights'''

Requires the State Department of Education, in consultation with the California Foster Youth Education Task Force, to develop a standardized notice of the education rights of foster children, and to post the notice on its Internet Web site.

'''AB 256, Electronic Evidence Protection'''

Amends Penal Code Section 141 to specify that "any physical matter" includes digital images and video recordings.

'''AB 267, Mandate Disclosure of Rights Given Up Before Plea Deal'''

Requires the court, when the defendant first appears for arraignment on a felony charge, to inform the defendant that accepting a plea and a felony conviction results in the loss of certain privileges.

'''AB 337, Teacher Tax Credit'''
Allows K-12 teachers, in their first three years of consecutive service at public and private schools, to claim individual tax credits for out of pocket expenses incurred for the purchase of instructional materials and classroom supplies. Eligible teachers can receive a credit for up to $250 of any unreimbursed expenses.

'''AB 324, Allow Felons to Serve on Juries'''

Eliminate the blanket exclusion of people with felony convictions from jury service by reinstating their civil right to jury eligibility and service.

'''AB 351, Small Business Procurement'''

Requires all state entities receiving public funding to establish and achieve a 25% small business participation rate for state procurement contracts.

'''AB 396, Ban the Box for Housing'''

Adds people with criminal records as a protected class to Government Code Section 12955 and prohibits using a criminal record as a basis upon which housing decisions occurs.

'''AB 529, Armed Prohibited Persons System'''

Restricts the renewal of a driver's license or vehicle registration for anyone on the Prohibited Armed Persons file (PC 30000-30015) that has failed to surrender their weapon(s) as required by law.

'''AB 610, Child Support Arrears'''

Clarifies that the suspension of child support order occurs by operation of law for those who are incarcerated and gives LCSA's administrative authority indefinitely to modify arrears for incarcerated Obligors to zero.

'''AB 672, Services for Wrongfully Convicted Persons'''

Provides reentry assistance for persons that have been wrongfully convicted and subsequently released from state prison

'''AB 696, Probable Cause Determination Hearings'''

Requires prompt probable cause determination hearings for out of custody misdemeanants.

'''AB 708, Labeling of Cleaning Products'''

Requires ingredient disclosure on both product labels and Internet Web sites for most kinds of cleaning products sold to consumers and businesses.

'''AB 769, State Employee Discipline'''

Streamlines the process for investigating employees accused of wrongdoing to ensure it is conducted as efficiently and timely as possible.

'''AB 926''',Earned Compliance Credits and Re-Entry Services Fund, Creates an earned compliance credit program that provides eligible parolees with the opportunity to reduce their period of parole supervision upon compliance with their parole conditions. Savings from the reduced parole supervision shall be reinvested into job training and housing support for state parolees to reduce recidivism.

'''AB 1012, Empty Class Periods/Jefferson High School'''

Prohibits school districts from assigning any pupil to a course period without educational content and create a system for providing technical assistance and support for districts that are relying on such courses.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB769&search_keywords=|title=Bill Text - AB-769 State employees: disciplinary action.}}</ref>
'''AB 1203, Disaster Response Initiative'''

Establishes the Disaster Response Fund within the State Treasury to fund disaster and emergency response activities of the Office of Emergency Services.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1012&search_keywords=%3E|title=Bill Text - AB-1012 Pupil instruction: course periods without educational content.}}</ref>

'''AB 1301, Pre-Clearance Voting Rights Act'''

Establishes a preclearance process for proposed voting related laws, regulations, and policies.

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1301&search_keywords=|title=Bill Text - AB-1301 Voting rights: preclearance.}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://asmdc.org/members/a59/}}
* {{Official website|http://asmdc.org/members/a59/}}
* [http://www.reggiejonessawyer.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/13873 Join California Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr.]
* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/13873 Join California Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr.]


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[[Category:Politicians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in California]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in California]]
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[[Category:21st-century American legislators]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century California politicians]]

Revision as of 15:23, 14 July 2024

Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Member of the California Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 3, 2012
Preceded byTim Donnelly (redistricted)
Constituency59th district (2012–2022)
57th district (2022–present)
Personal details
Born (1957-01-14) January 14, 1957 (age 67)
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
RelativesJefferson Thomas (uncle)
Residence(s)South Los Angeles, California
Alma materUniversity of Southern California (BS)
ProfessionLabor organizer

Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. (born January 14, 1957) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly since 2012. Representing the 59th district from 2012 to 2022 and the 57th district from 2022 to 2024, Jones-Sawyer was a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus and served as chair of the caucus from 2015 to 2016. In 2023, he announced his candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council for the 2024 Los Angeles elections, which he placed 5th out of five candidates in the primary.

Early life and education

Jones-Sawyer was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 14, 1957. His uncle, Jefferson Thomas, was one of the "Little Rock Nine" high school students.[1] He attended and graduated from the University of Southern California, earning a Bachelor of Science degree degree in Public Administration.[2]

Political career

Prior to his election to the California State Assembly, Jones-Sawyer worked for the City of Los Angeles, including as Director of Asset Management and Assistant Deputy Mayor.[3] He also served as the Secretary of the California Democratic Party, Chair of the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, Chair of the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission, and Vice President for SEIU's Local 721 within the Los Angeles Professional Managers Association.[4][5]

Jones-Sawyer was elected to the State Assembly in 2012, being re-elected five more times until 2022; he was twice re-elected without any opposition.[6] In 2014, he was fined for campaign violations, admitting that he accepted campaign contributions from a friend that was over the limit of contributions.[7] In 2021, Jones-Sawyer sought to change the statewide entry requirements for police officers with AB89, which would've required at least a bachelor's degree or at least 25 years of age before entering a police academy.[8]

In 2023, Jones-Sawyer announced that he would be challenging appointed incumbent councilor Heather Hutt in the 2024 Los Angeles elections.[9] He was eliminated in the primary.

Jones-Sawyer is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[10]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing
Total % P. Total % P.
2012 State Assembly Democratic 7,029 43.6% 1st 36,949 52.3% 1st Won Hold
2014 12,404 100.00% 1st 28,493 100.00% 1st Won Hold
2016 35,820 100.00% 1st 77,325 100.00% 1st Won Hold
2018 19,188 76.8% 1st 47,765 66.9% 1st Won Hold
2020 19,873 44.9% 2nd 63,448 57.5% 1st Won Hold
2024 City Council Nonpartisan 2,102 5.92% 5th Did not advance Lost N/A

References

  1. ^ Sandoval, Sarina (June 12, 2020). "California Assemblymember Shares Connection to Little Rock Nine". Spectrum News 1.
  2. ^ Taylor Jr., Otis R. (May 2, 2023). "Mini-Documentary: California's Reparations Task Force on the Foundation for Lasting Reparative Justice". KQED.
  3. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (April 4, 2018). "These 14 California legislators are getting two government checks a month". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  4. ^ "BERNIE SANDERS CALLS OUT DECEPTIVE PRO-EFREN MARTINEZ MAILER". Los Angeles Sentinel. October 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Gamson, Benjamin (October 20, 2023). "USC-area lawmakers talk student issues". Daily Trojan.
  6. ^ Evains, Tyler Shaun (May 28, 2022). "Election 2022: Reggie Jones-Sawyer runs unopposed for 57th Assembly District reelection". Daily Breeze.
  7. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (June 9, 2014). "Two Calif. state lawmakers fined for campaign violations". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Koseff, Alexei (2021-01-04). "California considers requiring police recruits to finish college or setting minimum age of 25". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  9. ^ White, Jeremy B. (February 17, 2023). "They know the way from Sacramento to L.A." Politico.
  10. ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
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