Jacqui Irwin

Jacqui Irwin (born January 3, 1962) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Democrat representing the 44th Assembly District, which encompasses portions of Ventura County and the city of Westlake Village. 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.

Jacqui Irwin
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 44th district
Assumed office
December 1, 2014
Preceded byJeff Gorell
Personal details
Born (1962-01-03) January 3, 1962
Encino, Los Angeles, California
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jon Irwin
ResidenceThousand Oaks, California
Alma materUniversity of California, San Diego
ProfessionEngineer

Early life and education

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

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 was reelected in 2016, defeating Republican opponent Kerry Nelson.[5] She was reelected again in 2018, defeating Republican opponent Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy.[6]

Legislative tenure

Irwin is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs,[7] and the Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity.[8] She also serves on the Committees on Agriculture, Business & Professions, Higher Education, and Privacy and Consumer Protection.[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

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

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, CA.[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

In 2019 Irwin focused heavily on gun violence prevention legislation in response to the Borderline Shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA. Her legislation strengthened Gun Violence Restraining Orders, in part by allowing them to extend up to five years. She also required law enforcement agencies to have policies about using Gun Violence Restraining Orders.[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]

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.[23]

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[24] and organized blood drives during a local shortage.[25]

Irwin also brought together local governments, academics, private businesses, and non-profits to conduct a COVID-19 antibody testing study in Ventura County.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28] [29]

Thousand Oaks Memorial controversy

In October 2019, Irwin pulled out of attending a fundraising event for the family of an officer killed in the Borderline shooting.[30] An organizer of the event claimed that Irwin's withdrawal was due to the planned attendance of Ronda Kennedy, a Republican who lost to Irwin in the 2018 election.[31] 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.[30]

Personal life

Irwin married Jon Irwin, a corporate executive, in 1986, and has three children.[1] After her efforts to remove provisions from the California Consumer Privacy Act in 2019, she received criticism for possible conflicts of interest based on her husband's position as COO of Ring.[32] Irwin claimed that she consults with the Assembly's ethics officer on any potential conflicts of interest.[33]

Elections

2014 California State Assembly
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
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
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[34]
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


References
  1. 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 District 44 State Assembly Results: Jacqui Irwin Wins". The New York Times. August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  6. Martinez, Christian (November 6, 2018). "Election results 2018: Jacqui Irwin, incumbents appear to hold assembly seats". Ventura County Star. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  7. "California State Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs". California State Assembly.
  8. "Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity". California State Assembly.
  9. "Committees". Official Website- Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin.
  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.
  15. "Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Applauds Passage of OpenJustice Data Act of 2016 in California State Legislature". California Department of Justice.
  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.
  22. "Assemblymember Irwin works to secure state funding for crucial Ventura County programs". Office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin.
  23. Harris, Mike (November 6, 2019). "'Life and legacy' of slain sheriff's sergeant goes on with highway dedication". Ventura County Star.
  24. Rode, Erin (March 27, 2020). "Coronavirus: Amid 'worldwide' demand for protective equipment, Ventura County seeks donations". Ventura County Star.
  25. "Assemblymember Irwin Calls on Ventura County Residents to Serve their Community in Time of Crisis".
  26. Wilson, Kathleen (April 16, 2020). "Ventura County officials on the hunt for antibody tests". Ventura County Star.
  27. Childs, Jeremy (June 20, 2020). "Ventura County to offer free coronavirus antibody testing through July 3". USA Today.
  28. "Oxnard Fire Department, St. John's Regional SARS-COV2 Antibody Testing Project: UCLA/CLU Seroprevalence Collaboration Power Point Presentation". July 7, 2020.
  29. "Oxnard City Council Meeting 7/7/2020". July 7, 2020.
  30. Harris, Mike (October 2, 2019). "Fundraiser to honor sheriff's deputy killed in Borderline shooting postponed". Ventura County Star. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  31. Melugin, Bill (October 1, 2019). "Borderline mass shooting charity event canceled due to Trump supporter controversy". Fox 11 Los Angeles. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  32. Murphy, Katy. "Key lawmaker in California Privacy Act debate is married to Ring executive". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  33. Whitnall, Becca (October 10, 2019). "Politico piece suggests Irwin's marital ties present conflict". Thousand Oaks Acorn. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  34. (PDF) https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/complete-sov.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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