Candidate for
State Senator; District 37

Jim Battin will bring to the California State Senate a deep concern for family, dedication to community service and a commitment to a strong economy. Those principles are reflected not only in his legislative agenda - which focuses on protecting children and families, creating jobs and helping lift people out of poverty - but also in his life. Here you can find out more about who Jim is and why he's running for State Senate.

Jim was born and raised in Billings, Montana. Growing up in the Big Sky country gave him an appreciation and respect for nature and the wilderness. All throughout his youth, Jim was an avid sportsman - backpacking, fishing and hunting regularly.

However, being the son of five-term Congressman and then U.S. District Court Judge James F. Battin, Jim spent his early years in Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to politics at a very young age. Jim often played in then-Congressman Gerald Ford's backyard, and knew Bob Dole as one of his father's congressional freshman classmates.

In 1969, Jim's father was appointed to the federal bench, becoming the very first appointment of President Nixon's administration, and eventually became the longest serving judge in the nation - serving 27 years as the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in Montana. Jim's father passed away in 1996, and in his honor, the Federal Courthouse in Billings, Montana, has been renamed the James F. Battin U.S. District Courthouse.

When Jim was just six years old, he accompanied his father to brunch at the White House, where he met President Richard Nixon. "There I stood, looking up at the President of the United States as he stood talking to my father, shaking the hand of a six-year-old the entire time ' it seemed like forever," Jim remembers. "That's an incredible experience at any age." Jim is proud to follow in his late father's footsteps.

Jim was raised to understand and appreciate the value of a good education. In high school he competed on the school's debate team - ranking third in the state his junior year and winning the state championship his senior year, qualifying him for the National Championship, which he competed in. "Debating was a great experience - it taught me to think fast, and argue smart," said Jim. "I have found that it comes in very handy in the State Legislature." Jim later attended the University of Oregon, where he earned a degree in Psychology. It was during his college years that he met and later married his wife Mary.

Jim and Mary moved to southern California in 1985, where they are raising their three children: Christopher 12, Bailey 9, and Kelsey 8. Before running for the State Assembly, Jim worked as a television executive for 10 years with KMIR-TV, the NBC television affiliate in Palm Desert. During this time Jim also began his long "career" as a community volunteer, most notably as the driving force behind 'Bringing Home the Holidays' - the largest food donation program in the Coachella Valley. He also became a board member of Martha's Kitchen, a meal-distribution program for those in need, and participated in the Youth Education Motivation Program, where business people share with students their "secrets of success in the world of work." Recently, Jim has become active in Junior Achievement, working with his wife to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in elementary school children.

"Giving something back to the community has always been important to me - it's a value my parents instilled in me at a young age," said Jim. "Volunteerism is uniquely American and will always be a part of my life." Jim was elected to the State Assembly in 1994 with broad bipartisan support. He ran on a platform that included government reform and accountability - issues he holds near and dear to his heart. "My father always said, 'Your value in public service is measured by your integrity,'" Jim recalls. "I've always tried to live by this principle, and I expect government to do the same."

Jim was easily reelected to second and third terms in 1996 and 1998, and has served in a wide variety of leadership positions during the past six years. In 1994, Jim was named Caucus Whip for the new Republican majority in the Assembly. The next year he became the Majority Caucus Chairman, and has since served within the leadership ranks of his caucus. As Caucus Chair, Jim directed Republican policy strategy, floor operations, managed the caucus and kept members informed about legislation.

As an Assemblyman, Jim is working to create jobs for Californians by streamlining excessive government regulations and reducing the high taxes that make it difficult for California businesses to remain competitive. He's even introduced legislation creating tax credits for corporations who donate much needed computer equipment to our schools. And Jim has fought and will continue to fight for tax cuts for individuals, families and businesses while opposing higher taxes.

When gas prices climbed to record levels recently, Jim was the first to ask the State Air Resources Control Board (ARB) to allow federal-reformulated gasoline into California to refill the gap in supply of gasoline formulated under California's heightened standards. This supply shortage caused gasoline prices throughout the state to spike in the spring and summer.

And Jim is authoring Assembly Concurrent Resolution 48, which requires the Energy Commission and the Energy Institute at U.C. Berkeley to report to the Legislature the costs and benefits of continuing to require Californians to use California-only fuel, and to find a free-market solution that will keep gas prices low.

Battin has also been a force behind reforming our criminal justice system - to keep our schools, neighborhoods and families safe. Jim wrote legislation that would authorize the California Department of Justice to establish an Internet Directory of registered sex offenders and child molesters. Parents and concerned citizens would be able to use the Internet to look up by name, city, zip code or identifying marks - such as a tattoo - those sexual predators in their area who may endanger women or children.

"Sexual predators who victimize children can inflict a lifetime of pain and turmoil through their perverse acts," Battin said. "And I'm committed to do whatever I can to keep child molesters off our streets and away from our families." That's why Jim wrote the law that prohibits convicted child molesters from being paroled near elementary schools - and why he has introduced legislation declaring April "Child Abuse Prevention Month" for the last five years.

Jim is not only working to make our families safer, but also to restore educational excellence in our classrooms. That's why he authored legislation to expand California's class size reduction program into the 7th and 8th grades. "Our children have a better chance to excel in school with more individualized attention - that's just common sense," said Battin.

Jim also has been instrumental in getting more resources to local schools. He helped bring $4 million in ADA "equalization" funds to local schools and $600,000 for a community college library. He even received the "Golden Apple Award" from a local school district for his work on behalf of "small school" funding. Jim Battin has proven that one person can make a difference. He's helped to improve our schools and make our communities better, safer and more prosperous, but more can be done. That's why Jim Battin is running for State Senate - to help make California a better place to live, work and raise a family.