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Jacqui Irwin

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Jacqui Irwin
Member of the California State Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 1, 2014
Preceded byJeff Gorell
Constituency44th district (2014–2022)
42nd district (2022–present)
Personal details
Born (1962-01-03) January 3, 1962 (age 62)
Encino, Los Angeles, California
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJon Irwin
ResidenceThousand Oaks, California
Alma materUniversity of California, San Diego
ProfessionEngineer

Jacqui Irwin (born January 3, 1962) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Democrat representing the 42nd Assembly District, having previously represented the 44th. Before being elected to the Assembly in 2014, Irwin worked as a systems engineer at Johns Hopkins University and Teledyne, then served as a two-term mayor and three-term city councilmember in Thousand Oaks.

Early life and education

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Irwin was born in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles to Dutch immigrants John and Barbara Van Egmond, and grew up in the Woodland Hills neighborhood.[1] She graduated with a systems engineering degree from the University of California, San Diego, where she was an Academic All American swimmer.[2]

Career

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After graduating from UC San Diego, Irwin worked as an engineer for three years at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, then for five years at Teledyne.[3] In 2003, Irwin was appointed to the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission, ran for City Council the following year, and became mayor of Thousand Oaks in 2008.[1]

In 2014, Irwin successfully ran as a Democrat in the race to represent California's 44th State Assembly district, defeating Republican opponent Rob McCoy.[4] Irwin has been reelected four times in 2016, 2018, 2020, and most recently 2022 in the new California's 42nd State Assembly district after redistricting occurred.

Legislative tenure

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Irwin is the chair of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation,[5] and the Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity,[6] and the Assembly Select Committee on Gasoline Supply and Pricing.[7] She also serves on the Committees on Agriculture, Business & Professions, Higher Education, and Privacy and Consumer Protection.[8] She previously served as chair of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs from 2014-2021.[9]

Irwin has also been appointed to other significant roles including the Governor's Military Council,[10] and as co-chair of the National Conference of State Legislature’s Task Force on Cybersecurity.[11]

2015-2016 session

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During her first term in office, Irwin passed significant legislation. Irwin improved the cybersecurity of the state by mandating state agencies undergo independent security assessments,[12] she banned powdered alcohol,[13] expanded the ability of University of California research to be turned into real-world applications,[14] and worked with Attorney General Kamala Harris to create the OpenJustice Web portal to provide better access to criminal justice data.[15]

2017-2018 session

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During her second term in office, Irwin helped secure critical funding for infrastructure projects in Ventura County, including $68.6 million for a grade separation project at Rice Avenue in Oxnard, California,[16] and $9.5 million for emergency wastewater treatment facility repairs in Oxnard, California.[17]

She continued her work passing significant cybersecurity legislation, enacting into law the first ever security requirement for Internet of Things devices.[18] Irwin also significantly changed how California Community Colleges approached remedial education in an effort to get students into transfer level courses.[19][20]

2019-2020 session

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In 2019 Irwin focused heavily on gun violence prevention legislation in response to the Borderline Shooting in Thousand Oaks, California. Her legislation strengthened Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs), in part by allowing them to extend up to five years. She also required law enforcement agencies to have policies about using GVROs.[21] Irwin also secured $3 million to support local law enforcement efforts to recover firearms from individuals listed in the Armed and Prohibited Possessors System.[22]

In October 2019, Irwin pulled out of attending a fundraising event for the family of an officer killed in the Borderline shooting.[23] After the Ventura County Sheriff's Office also withdrew from the fundraiser, citing a policy of non-participation in political events, the event was postponed indefinitely.[23] An organizer of the event was later arrested in Florida for felony violations of charitable solicitation law and misusing charitable funds.[24]

Irwin also authored ACR-17, which renamed a portion of U.S. Route 101 in Thousand Oaks after Sgt. Ron Helus, from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, who died in the line of duty during the Borderline Shooting.[25]

In 2020, Irwin shifted the majority of her efforts towards assisting her district's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Irwin spearheaded efforts to collect personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health care workers[26] and organized blood drives during a local shortage.[27]

Irwin also brought together local governments, academics, private businesses, and non-profits to conduct a COVID-19 antibody testing study in Ventura County.[28] Irwin worked with the group to acquire reliable and available serology tests to be used for the study. She also helped identify and secure locations that would be utilized as testing sites for the countywide study which offered free COVID-19 antibody testing to residents.[29] The antibody testing study was developed to not only understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in Ventura County, but was also modeled to understand the prevalence in targeted groups including first responders, low-income households, and those experiencing homelessness.[30][31]

Irwin also set the highest level for recycled materials in plastic bottles, authoring a bill with Assemblyman Phil Ting to require plastic beverage containers to contain at least 50% postconsumer recycled plastic content by 2030.[32]

2021-2022 session

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During Irwin’s fourth term in the Assembly, she continued to author landmark legislation into law. With support from Attorney General Rob Bonta, Irwin created new rules for online charitable giving providing protections for donors and nonprofits using website like GoFundMe, PayPal Giving Fund, and other online platforms.[33]

Irwin also worked to protect the elderly from hospice fraud by prohibiting incentive payments, a problem highlighted by investigative journalism by the Los Angeles Times.[34]  She partnered with County Clerks to make permanent Californian’s ability to request vital records (e.g. birth, marriage, death certificates) online, rather than visit offices in person.[35]

2023-2024 session

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Irwin, who has a background in the tech industry, has pushed for legislature to require artificial intelligence companies to disclose training data.[36]

Personal life

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Irwin married Jon Irwin, a corporate executive, in 1986, and has three children.[1] After her efforts to amend provisions of the California Consumer Privacy Act in 2019, which passed unanimously through the legislature and were signed by the governor,[37] she received criticism for possible conflicts of interest based on her husband's position as COO of Ring.[38] Irwin claimed that she consults with the Assembly's ethics officer on any potential conflicts of interest.[39]

Elections

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2014 California State Assembly

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See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014
California's 44th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jacqui Irwin 24,225 44.7
Republican Rob McCoy 16,811 31.0
Republican Mario de la Piedra 13,116 24.2
Total votes 54,152 100.0
General election
Democratic Jacqui Irwin 57,098 52.3
Republican Rob McCoy 52,085 47.7
Total votes 109,183 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2016 California State Assembly

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See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 44th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 63,992 60.9
Republican Kerry J. Nelson 41,145 39.1
Total votes 105,137 100.0
General election
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 107,084 59.0
Republican Kerry J. Nelson 74,417 41.0
Total votes 181,501 100.0
Democratic hold

2018 California State Assembly

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See also: California State Assembly election, 2018
California's 44th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 44,028 51.9
Republican Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy 37,342 44.0
Democratic Robert Zelinsky 3,411 4.0
Total votes 84,781 100.0
General election
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 95,622 58.9
Republican Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy 66,758 42.1
Total votes 162,380 100.0
Democratic hold

2020 California State Assembly

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See also: California State Assembly election, 2020
2020 California's 44th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 73,294 62.2
Republican Denise Pedrow 44,534 37.8
Total votes 117,828 100.0
General election
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 132,679 60.7
Republican Denise Pedrow 86,051 39.3
Total votes 218,730 100.0
Democratic hold

[40]

2022 California State Assembly

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See also: 2022 California State Assembly election
California's 42nd State Assembly district election, 2022
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 80,404 55.9
Republican Lori Mills 41,717 29.0
Republican Ted Nordblum 21,639 15.0
Total votes 143,750 100.0
General election
Democratic Jacqui Irwin (incumbent) 118,131 55.0
Republican Lori Mills 96,482 45.0
Total votes 214,613 100.0
Democratic hold

[41]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mcgrath, Rachel (January 11, 2008). "Thousand Oaks mayoral debut". Ventura County Star. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Herdt, Timm (October 9, 2014). "Irwin plunges into partisan politics with problem-solving approach". Ventura County Star. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  3. ^ "Jacqui Irwin puts name in the running to lead 44th District". Moorpark Acorn. January 10, 2014. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley Wins Re-Election". KCAL 9 CBS Los Angeles. November 12, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "California State Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation". California State Assembly.
  6. ^ "Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity". California State Assembly.
  7. ^ "California lawmakers promise relief with probe into 'gas price gouging'". The Mercury News. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Committees". Official Website- Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin.
  9. ^ "Biography | Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin Representing the 44th California Assembly District". a44.asmdc.org. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "About the Council". Governor’s Military Council.
  11. ^ "Task Force on Cybersecurity". National Conference of State Legislatures.
  12. ^ Raths, David (October 11, 2016). "Legislating Cybersecurity: Lawmakers Recognize Their Responsibility with Cyberthreats". Government Technology.
  13. ^ "Press Release- Governor Signs Ban on Sale of Powdered Alcohol" (PDF). Alcohol Justice.
  14. ^ "State invests $22 million in UC entrepreneurship, innovation to drive California economy". University of California. University of California Office of the President. September 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Applauds Passage of OpenJustice Data Act of 2016 in California State Legislature". California Department of Justice. August 30, 2016.
  16. ^ Harris, Mike (May 22, 2018). "Officials laud funding for planned bridge in Oxnard that they say will save lives". Ventura County Star.
  17. ^ Leung, Wendy (July 17, 2018). "Assemblywoman Irwin secures $9.5 million for Oxnard sewer plant repairs". Ventura County Star.
  18. ^ Douglas, Theo (September 28, 2018). "California Governor Approves Bills Tightening Security, Privacy of IoT Devices". Government Technology.
  19. ^ "What is AB 705?". California Community Colleges.
  20. ^ "Trust students, not tests, to open pathway to community college success". Ed Source. May 2, 2018.
  21. ^ "Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Gun Violence Prevention Legislation". Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. October 11, 2019.
  22. ^ "Assemblymember Irwin works to secure state funding for crucial Ventura County programs". Office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin.
  23. ^ a b Harris, Mike (October 2, 2019). "Fundraiser to honor sheriff's deputy killed in Borderline shooting postponed". Ventura County Star. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  24. ^ Seaver, Matthew (June 22, 2022). "Collier County fallen officers charity founder arrested, accused of misusing donations". WINK NEWS. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  25. ^ Harris, Mike (November 6, 2019). "'Life and legacy' of slain sheriff's sergeant goes on with highway dedication". Ventura County Star.
  26. ^ Rode, Erin (March 27, 2020). "Coronavirus: Amid 'worldwide' demand for protective equipment, Ventura County seeks donations". Ventura County Star.
  27. ^ "Assemblymember Irwin Calls on Ventura County Residents to Serve their Community in Time of Crisis".
  28. ^ Wilson, Kathleen (April 16, 2020). "Ventura County officials on the hunt for antibody tests". Ventura County Star.
  29. ^ Childs, Jeremy (June 20, 2020). "Ventura County to offer free coronavirus antibody testing through July 3". USA Today.
  30. ^ "Oxnard Fire Department, St. John's Regional SARS-COV2 Antibody Testing Project: UCLA/CLU Seroprevalence Collaboration Power Point Presentation". July 7, 2020.
  31. ^ "Oxnard City Council Meeting 7/7/2020". YouTube. July 7, 2020.
  32. ^ "CA Mandatory Recycled-Content Bill Signed Into Law". Progressive Grocer. September 25, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  33. ^ "Attorney General Bonta and Assemblymember Irwin's Legislation to Provide Oversight of Online Charitable Fundraising Platforms Signed into Law". State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. October 7, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  34. ^ "New reform measures target fraud, kickbacks in California's end-of-life care industry". Los Angeles Times. April 30, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "Letter: Bill important for vital records". Ventura County Star. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  36. ^ Sabalow, Ryan (May 28, 2024). "The Legislature's top expert on tech is taking on the industry". CalMatters. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  37. ^ "Bill Votes - AB-874 California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  38. ^ Murphy, Katy (September 12, 2019). "Key lawmaker in California Privacy Act debate is married to Ring executive". Politico PRO. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  39. ^ Whitnall, Becca (October 10, 2019). "Politico piece suggests Irwin's marital ties present conflict". Thousand Oaks Acorn. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  40. ^ "2020 Election Results" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov.
  41. ^ "2022 Assembly District Election Results" (PDF).
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