Rick Keene
Richard J. "Rick" Keene (born November 16, 1957, in Crescent City, California) was a Republican candidate for California's 4th State Senate district. Previously, Keene served in the California State Assembly representing the 3rd district[1] from 2002 until he was termed out in 2008. Prior to his service in the Assembly, Keene served on the Chico City Council from 1994 until 2002, and as mayor in 1996. Prior to his election to the Legislature he was an attorney[2] in Chico who operated a small general law practice and specialized in criminal defense, workers' compensation, and personal injury law.
Contents |
[edit] The Third Assembly District
The major cities that Keene represented were Chico, Marysville, Grass Valley, and Truckee.
[edit] Legislative career
Elected to the State Assembly in 2002, Keene represented the 3rd District including Lassen, Plumas, Yuba, Nevada, Sierra and portions of Butte and Placer Counties for six years. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, he served as a councilman and mayor of the City of Chico. In his second term in the Assembly, Keene assumed several leadership positions, including being selected as Republican Whip and the Vice Chair of the Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife.[citation needed]
Chosen as Assistant Republican Leader 10 months after being first elected, Keene served as principal consultant to successive Republican Leaders on major policy issues and political strategy. He was also selected to be lead Republican on Budget and also served on the Natural Resources Committee, Utilities and Commerce Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the legislature's watchdog committee.
Since his Chico City Council days, Keene has remained firmly committed to fiscal responsibility and constantly fought to reduce taxes and wasteful spending. While in the Assembly, he focused much of his time and effort on issues of great importance to the people of the North State, namely the State Budget, Workers’ Compensation Reform and addressing the State’s dilapidated infrastructure, including working to prevent failing levees in the North State and negotiating to construct new water storage.
[edit] Personal
The son of a logger, Keene was born in Crescent City and raised in Hayfork, a small community in Trinity County. Keene previously worked in many vocations in his life. He has set chokers in a logging operation, driven a forklift at a nut processing plant and, for 10 years, worked at UPS. Prior to becoming a member of the Assembly, he served the community for 15 years as an attorney at his small law firm in Chico.
Keene worked his way through college and law school as a UPS driver, graduating from CSU, Chico in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies. He then went on to complete a Juris Doctorate Degree from Cal Northern School of Law in 1989. He is currently working as a consultant on land use and development.[citation needed]
Keene and his family have been residents of Butte County for more than 33 years. He and his wife, Janice, have five children: Erin, Christopher, Rosie, Caitlin and Lucy. Two are married and they have two grandchildren. Keene is an active member and teacher in his church and volunteers for community organizations, working locally on parenting and poverty issues.
After serving in the legislature Keene joined the Sacramento Lobby Firm Wilke Fleury as “Of Counsel.”
In the summer of 2009 he created a business, "Keene Consulting," which he reported earned less than $10,000 for the year.
In 2011 he registered as lobbyist and is now employed with a workers compensation firm.
[edit] 2010 Elections
Keene was a candidate for the California State Senate 4th District in 2010.[3] Incumbent Sam Aanestad was term-limited.
Former 4th District Senator Sam Aanestad, former Senators Rico Oller and Tim Leslie and Congressman Tom McClintock endorsed Keene's candidacy.
On June 8, 2010 Doug LaMalfa defeated Rick Keene 57.8% - 42.2% in a hotly contested election where Keene significantly outspent his opponent.
