Chuck DeVore

Chuck DeVore
Chuck DeVore speaking at CPAC
Member of the California State Assembly from the 70th district
In office December 6, 2004 – December 6, 2010
Preceded by	John Campbell
Succeeded by	Don Wagner
Personal details
Born	(1962-05-20) May 20, 1962 Seattle, Washington
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Diane DeVore
Children	Jennie DeVore, Amy DeVore
Alma mater	Claremont McKenna College
Occupation	Businessman, Politician
Awards	Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal (2) Army Achievement Medal (3) Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2) with Mobilization device Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal National Defense Service Medal (2) Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (2) Army Service Ribbon
Website	Chuck DeVore: California State Assemblyman
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1983–present
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	40th Infantry Division (Mechanized)
Commands	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 640th Military Intelligence Battalion

Charles S. "Chuck" DeVore (born May 20, 1962) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010 and represented the 70th District, which includes portions of Orange County. DeVore serves as Vice Chair of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee and was also a member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and Veterans Affairs Committee. On November 12, 2008, DeVore announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2010, but in the Republican primary on June 8, 2010, DeVore finished third, receiving 19.3 percent of the vote. In late 2011, DeVore moved to Texas to work for the Texas Public Policy Foundation where he is now Vice President for Communications and a Senior Fellow for Fiscal Policy.

Early life and family

Born in Seattle, Washington, DeVore moved to California when he was 13 years old.

From 1980 to 1983, he attended California State University, Fullerton, paying for college by working industrial construction as union carpenter (AFL-CIO). DeVore earned an ROTC scholarship to attend Claremont McKenna College, where he earned his B.A. in Strategic Studies with honors in 1985. He studied abroad at the American University in Cairo.

Married in 1988, DeVore and his wife, Diane, have two daughters, Jennie, born in 1991, and Amy, born in 1997.

Business and public service career

DeVore, speaking to a meeting of the Fremont Tea Party Patriots.

From 1986 to 1988, DeVore served in the Reagan Administration as a Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs in the Department of Defense. In that capacity, he worked on Capitol Hill and traveled to Europe, Africa, Asia and Central America.

In 1988, DeVore was the public liaison director for the Congressional campaign of Reagan's Senior Associate Counsel Christopher Cox. After Cox won the election, DeVore served as senior assistant to Cox during his first term.

In 1991, DeVore joined SM&A, an aerospace engineering and management services firm in Newport Beach. Upon his election to the Assembly in 2004, DeVore was vice president for research for the firm. He also became an Irvine City Commissioner that year, serving until 1996. DeVore was Vice Chairman of the Irvine Community Services Commission from 1993 to 1994 and served as chairman from 1994 to 1995. He also served as an elected member of Republican Party Central Committee of Orange County from 1993 to 2003.

Military service

DeVore enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1983 with the rank of private first class. He earned an ROTC scholarship and was commissioned an officer in 1985. In 2007, DeVore retired from active service in the California Army National Guard with the rank of lieutenant colonel and transferred into the U.S. Army Reserve. Most of his time in uniform was spent in the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

DeVore graduated from the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services School, and the Command and General Staff College. His overseas military service included deployments to Panama and Korea. In 1990-91, during the Gulf War, DeVore was deployed to Fort Irwin, California where he was assigned to the Opposing Force (OPFOR). He was also called to active duty during the 1992 Los Angeles riots to patrol South Los Angeles.

California State Assemblyman

In 2004, DeVore won the Republican primary election for the 70th Assembly District in coastal Orange County by a 20% margin in a six-way race. He then won the general election with 61% of the vote. DeVore won reelection in 2006 and again in 2008. Because of term limits, he was ineligible to run for reelection in 2010.

In 2004, the Claremont Institute named DeVore a Lincoln Fellow. DeVore has been named legislator of the year by seven organizations: the California Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the California chapter of the American Legion, the State Commanders' Veterans Council, a membership organization of 20 veterans and military-related organizations, the Southern California Contractors Association, the Young Republican Federation of California and the Orange County Republican Party. In 2006, the Orange County United Way recognized DeVore for his efforts to improve home-based child care law.

Bills and policy positions

Nuclear power

In the California State Assembly DeVore was known for his advocacy of modern nuclear power as the only practical way to produce large amounts of reliable, affordable electricity while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. DeVore authored five bills on nuclear power: AB 719, AB 1776, AB 2788, ABX2 5, and AB 1035. None of the bills made it out of committee, as they failed to secure votes from majority Democrats.

Offshore oil

DeVore has also proposed using slant drilling from inland locations to extract large amounts of oil in California's territorial waters, as a way to generate added state revenue and jobs while offsetting the importation of foreign oil. Slant drilling would require no new offshore rigs.

Taxes

Seeing a slowing economy in California in early 2007, DeVore wrote AB 1443 the "California Investment and Jobs Act" to reduce the income tax rate in California, at the time, the highest in the USA (now the 4th highest) The bill failed to gain votes and died in committee.

Government reform

In the area of state-owned housing by government employees, DeVore wrote AB 1708 in 2005. As AB 1708 was being considered, the California State Auditor released a report showing that state employees were improperly receiving $8 million per year in unreported free rent while underpaying $3 million per year in taxes on the unreported fringe benefit. Now law, AB 1708 requires the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration to determine by rule the fair and reasonable value of maintenance, living quarters, housing, lodging, board, meals, food, household supplies, fuel, laundry, and other services furnished by the state as an employer of its employees.

Prison reform

In 2007 DeVore wrote AB 716 with Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton) to improve drug and alcohol rehabilitation in the California prison system. This key provision of prison reform was incorporated into AB 900 which was signed into law.

Child care reform

In 2005, officials with United Way of Orange County approached Assemblyman DeVore regarding the issue of cities using the permitting process to discourage the creation of family run neighborhood day care centers. In response, DeVore wrote AB 266 in 2005. This bill was defeated in committee after strong lobbying by the California League of Cities. In 2006 DeVore introduced AB 2403, which was signed into law.

California High Speed Rail

DeVore authored one of the official arguments against, the November 2008 ballot initiative known as the "Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century." It passed 52.6% to 47.4%.

Assembly events

DeVore resigned his position as Chief Republican Whip on February 14, 2009 in protest of a $12 billion per year tax increase agreed to by Republican leadership.

Legislative scorecards

Project Vote Smart provides the following results from legislative scorecards.

• Equality California – 0% for 2008, 10% for 2007
• Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California – 18% for 2008
• California National Organization for Women – 30% for 2007
• Lambda Letters Project (LGBT) – 29% for 2007
• California Farm Bureau Federation – 100% for 2006
• California Taxpayers' Association – 100% for 2007
• California Chamber of Commerce – 100% for 2007
• California Manufacturers and Technology Association – 89% for 2007
• National Federation of Independent Business – 100% for 2006
• Consumer Federation of California – 0% for 2007
• California Republican Assembly – 100% for 2007
• California League of Conservation Voters – 5% for 2007
• Children's Advocacy Institute – 63% for 2007
• Gun Owners of California – A for 2006
• National Rifle Association – A for 2008
• PawPAC (an animal rights group) – F for 2007
• Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association – 98.7% for 2008

Book

In 1999, DeVore co-wrote a novel, China Attacks, with Steven W. Mosher, about an invasion of Taiwan by the People's Republic of China. The book was published in 2000 by Infinity Publishing, a company for authors who want to self-publish. In 2001 the book was translated into Chinese, in Taiwan.

2010 United States Senate bid

Devore, as a U.S. Senate candidate speaking at a campaign event.

Main article: United States Senate election in California, 2010

DeVore declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by three-term Democratic senator Barbara Boxer. DeVore's campaign posted two parodies of two songs by Don Henley, "After the Hope of November is Gone" (after "The Boys of Summer") and "All She Wants to Do is Tax" (after "All She Wants to Do Is Dance") on YouTube in April 2009. Don Henley and Henley's producer filed suit and YouTube removed them. DeVore filed a counter-claim and restored one of the videos to YouTube for several months before additional legal action took it down. Henley eventually prevailed in his legal challenge.

By November 2009, DeVore had made over 200 campaign events focusing on Boxer and the November 2010 elections, raising almost $1 million from 16,000 donors. At the start of November 2009, his new opponent, Carly Fiorina was suggesting, despite the fact that DeVore was garnering endorsements such as from Sen. Jim DeMint and almost 60 percent of California's elected Republican officials, including Rep. Tom McClintock, that he lacked the name recognition to provide her with a serious challenge in the primaries. Several polls showed DeVore and Fiorina effectively tied for the Republican nomination, including an L.A. Times/USC poll released on November 8, 2009. Carly Fiorina's campaign was also endorsed by 2008 Republican Presidential nominee John McCain.

On January 13, Former Congressman Tom Campbell also announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination.

Sarah Palin endorsed Carly Fiorina's Senate campaign in a Facebook note, earning Palin criticism from many DeVore supporters, while other DeVore supporters, such as Erick Erickson, editor-in-chief of RedState.com, began to question their support of DeVore's candidacy, fearing that DeVore and Fiorina would split the more conservative GOP primary voters, allowing the more liberal Campbell to win the nomination. Erickson later reaffirmed his support of DeVore and publicly called for Fiorina to drop out of the race, stating "A conservative whose first name starts with a 'C' can win the primary and beat Barbara Boxer. But that person is not named Carly. Rather that person is named Chuck."

In the Republican primary on June 8, 2010. DeVore finished third, winning 452,577 votes, and receiving 19.3% of the vote to Carly Fiorina's 56.4% and Tom Campbell's 21.7%. DeVore ended up raising $2.5 million for his primary effort, more than the top four Republicans combined raised in the primary cycle to challenge Sen. Boxer in 2004.

Life since 2010

Just two weeks after leaving the State Assembly in December 2010, DeVore announced on his web site, "I expect to run for office in 2012—what office remains a question." By March 2011, he announced that he will run for Orange County Supervisor. By October of 2011, DeVore dropped out of the race when he accepted a new job as a visiting scholar at the nonprofit Texas Public Policy Foundation writing about Texas's low taxes and regulations and its effects on business climate, in contrast to other states. In accepting the new job, he moved to Texas. By the summer of 2012, DeVore had been named a vice president at the conservative think tank.

Controversies

• DeVore settled a copyright infringement lawsuit against Don Henley for a parody video that he and his campaign worker, Justin Hart. DeVore and Hart settled with Henley after Judge James V. Selma sided against them. The two issued a public statement apologizing to Henley.
• In a blog post for Andrew Breitbart's BigPeace.com, DeVore criticized Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for seeking to meet with Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. DeVore accuses Ibrahim of having ties to Muslim Brotherhood, but at a speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center in June 2010, Ibrahim spoke favorably of a two-state solution, something the Muslim Brotherhood adamantly opposes. DeVore came under criticism from noted human rights advocate, Thor Halvorssen Mendoza for not criticizing the oppressive Malaysian regime and for directing all of his attention to Ibrahim.

External links

• Official Campaign web site
• Chuck DeVore News, Photos, Quotes, and more NPR
• Chuck DeVore - News, photos, topics, and quotes via DayLife
• DeVore's Myspace profile / DeVore's YouTube Channel / DeVore's Facebook profile
• Tweet for Chuck
• China Attacks novel web site / DeVore's Amazon.com book reviews
• DeVore at meetup.com
• Conservative Underground articles by DeVore
• Follow the Money - Churck DeVore
  • 2006 2008 campaign contributions