Steven N. Samuelian

Steven N. Samuelian was elected to the 29th district of the California State Assembly in 2002. He succeeded Mike Briggs who stepped down to make an unsuccessful run for Congress. He served one term in the assembly, and withdrew from the 2004 campaign. Mike Villines succeeded the assemblyman.

Background

Samuelian is an alumnus of California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.

Steven N. Samuelian was the Executive Director of the California College Republicans. He served as Vice-President and Co-Founder of the Young Republican Federation of California in 1993. [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf] Samuelian was a member of the Republican State Central Committee from 1989-2004 and the Republican Party State Executive Committee from 1991-2004. [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf] He also served in an executive position for the California Republican Party. [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf] He served as the Central Valley Co-Chairman of George W. Bush’s campaign for President. [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf]

Steven N. Samuelian has been active in the community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clovis District Chamber of Commerce; Trustee of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee; Finance Chairman for the Fresno State Armenian Studies Annual Banquet; Class President and member of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fresno Class XVI; member of the Clovis Chamber Government Affairs Committee; Resource Development Committee for the Fresno Leadership Foundation; Board of Directors of the United Way of Fresno County; Board of Directors for the Fresno Area Crimestoppers; and the Board of Advisors for the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno. [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf]

Samuelian was named recipient of the Fresno County United Way Outstanding Achievement Award June 2001, Fresno; Legion of Valor Museum Achievement Award; ‘‘Seropa’’ award from the Sikh Temple on the occasion of Khalsa; the Armenian National Committee Central California ‘‘Outstanding Leadership’’ award; Young Republican Federation of California Founders Award in July 2001; the Fresno County Republican Central Committee ‘‘VolunteerExcellence’’ award in June 2001; and was named to the prestigious International Who’s Who of Professionals list. [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf]

2002 Election

Samuelian defeated Larry Willey in the Republican primary and Richard Martinez, Jr. in the General Election.

2003 Scandal

During Samuelian's 2002 run for the state assembly, he revealed that in 1998 he had been cited by the police for loitering for the purpose of solicitation of prostitution.cite news |author=Mark Arax |title=Colleagues Ask Lawmaker to Quit; Republicans act after Assembly's Samuelian is stopped on a street tied to earlier sex scandal|publisher=The Los Angeles Times |pages=California Metro p. 1|date=2003-02-11|accessdate=2008-09-03] Samuelian paid a fine, and the citation was removed from his record. Samuelian then encountered controversy in February, 2003, when it was reported that he was stopped and questioned by police when his vehicle was noted on the same block of the same street as the earlier incident. He claimed he was delivering political fliers to the farm bureau.cite news |author=John Ellis |title=Samuelian faces new loitering allegation Fresno police pull him over driving up and down street known for prostitution|publisher=The Fresno Bee |pages=A1|date=2003-02-07|accessdate=2008-09-03] Samuelian denied any wrongdoing, and was not charged.In the wake of the incident, Samuelian faced public calls to resign from members of his own party including his former boss congressman George Radanovich, congressman Devin Nunes, and Michael Der Manouel Jr. president of the Fresno County Lincoln Club. [cite news |author=John Ellis|title=5 call for Samuelian to resign; Group of Valley Republicans says he should step down|publisher=The Fresno Bee|pages=A1 |date=2003-02-10|accessdate=2008-09-03] In December 2003, Samuelian announced that he would not seek re-election in order to spend more time with his family. [cite news |author=John Ellis|title=Samuelian won't run again for Assembly Clovis Republican says he wants to put family before political career|publisher=The Fresno Bee|pages=A1 |date=2003-12-04|accessdate=2008-09-03]

Accomplishments in the State Assembly

After he left public office, Samuelian was commended by the State Assembly. [cite web|url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/hr_82_bill_20040812_introduced.pdf|title=House Resolution 82 (2003-2004 session)|accessdate=2008-09-03] He was specifically lauded for his work in improving the opportunity for re-employment of displaced firefighters, and in establishing a Hmong History Month.

California Consulting

Steve Samuelian currently owns the consulting firm California Consulting,LLC. and has registered as a lobbyist with the state of California. California Consulting. LLC grew rapidly; representing 40 public and private clients. [http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Lobbying/Firms/Detail.aspx?id=1275430&session=2007]

References

External links

* [http://vote2002.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stasm/2954.htm California Secretary of State's official 2002 returns]
* [http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a31/news/a312004006.htm Assembly will seat 2 new Valley legislators]
* [http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Misc/filerSearch.aspx?SEARCH=central+valley+taxpayers/Central Valley Taxpayers Terminated.]
* [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=FB&p_theme=fb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF5595ED21B33A6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Autry rescinds Samuelian endorsement]