Brian Setencich

Brian Setencich (born 1962) served in the California Assembly for one term from 1994 to 1996 and as Speaker of that body from September 14 1995 to January 4 1996. Setencich was the first freshman legislator to serve as Speaker of the Assembly. He was previously a city councilman in Fresno and played professional basketball in Europe. [http://www.caltax.org/member/taxletter/vol8-38.htm]

Rise to power

California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown convinced Setencich and another Republican, Doris Allen, to vote with the Democrats so that the Republicans could not elect a Speaker. Brown had Allen elected Speaker, but in name only, since Brown continued to lead the legislative body as head of the Democratic caucus. Outraged Republicans had Allen recalled, and shortly before her removal from office, she resigned, and Brown had Setencich elected Speaker.

Fall from power

In 1995, Brown was elected Mayor of San Francisco. On January 3 1996, Brown resigned to be sworn in as Mayor. This allowed the Republicans to take control of the Assembly and elect conservative Orange County legislator Curt Pringle as Speaker of the Assembly. In the primary election of 1996, Setencich was defeated for renomination by Robert Prenter, who defeated Setencich again in November when Setencich ran as a write-in candidate.

After voters ousted Setencich from office, Willie Brown hired Setencich to work in San Francisco's emergency communication office. Setencich was convicted in 2001 of tax evasion through using funds from his campaign account for personal gain and understating income. Because of that, he may no longer run for public office. [http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=12-14-01&storyID=8954]

External links

* [http://www.briansetencich.com Brian Setencich official website]