Matt Dababneh
{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Matt Dababneh
|image = Matthew-Dababneh.jpg
|alt =
|state_assembly = California
|district = 45th
|term_start = January 6, 2014
|term_end = January 2, 2018
|predecessor = Bob Blumenfield
|successor = Jesse Gabriel
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|02|20}}
|birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = American
|party = Democratic
|spouse =
|children =
|residence = Encino, Los Angeles, California
|alma_mater = University of California, Los Angeles
|occupation = Politician
|profession =
|religion =
|signature =
|website =
}}
Matt Dababneh is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represented the 45th Assembly District, which encompasses most of the western San Fernando Valley.
Early life and education
Dababneh was raised in the Inland Empire and graduated from La Sierra Academy in 1999. Dababneh went on to graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in Political Science and History. He was on the staff of the John Kerry for President campaign in 2004.[http://asmdc.org/members/a45/about/biography Asmdc.org: Matt Dababneh — Biography] . accessed 2.14.2014.[http://www.mattdababneh.com/about Mattdababneh.com: "Experience—About Matt Dababneh"] . accessed 2.14.2014.
Sexual misconduct and resignation
{{See also|Me Too movement}}
On December 4, 2017, Pamela Lopez, a Sacramento lobbyist, alleged that Dababneh sexually assaulted her. According to Lopez, in 2016 Dababneh pushed her into a Las Vegas hotel bathroom, masturbated in front of her and urged her to touch him. "I felt the weight of a body push me into the restroom."{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2017/12/04/valley-assemblyman-matt-dababneh-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-sacramento-lobbyist/|title=Valley Assemblyman Matt Dababneh accused of sexually assaulting Sacramento lobbyist|date=December 4, 2017|first=Kevin|last=Modesti}} Dababneh has strongly denied the allegation, and his attorney Patricia L. Glaser, who also represents embattled film producer Harvey Weinstein, threatened to sue Lopez for defamation. "I affirmatively deny that this event ever happened," said Dababneh. "I am saddened by this lobbyist's effort... for her own self-promotion."{{cite news|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Two-Women-Accuse-Democratic-Assemblyman-Matt-Dababneh-of-Sexual-Harassment-461908803.html|date=December 4, 2017|title=Two Women Accuse Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh of Sexual Harassment}}
Jessica Y. Barker, who was Dababneh's subordinate when they both worked in US Congressman Brad Sherman's District Office, also came forward and accused Dababneh of sexual harassment. According to Barker, Dababneh regularly spoke about his sexual exploits and made degrading comments about women. She said his behavior was the main factor in her decision to leave her job as a field representative for the congressman after 18 months. She said over the course of her tenure there that Dababneh frequently made inappropriate comments at work, including talking about his sexual habits and the attire of female staffers. Two friends confirmed to The Los Angeles Times that Barker regularly told them about Dababneh's behavior and that she said it made her feel uncomfortable.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-matt-dababneh-harassment-20171204-story.html|title=California assemblyman accused of forcing lobbyist into bathroom and masturbating|date=December 4, 2017|first=Melanie|last=Mason|work=Los Angeles Times}} According to Barker, "Pamela and I aren't the only women that Matt has harassed. There are others and I have spoken to them."{{cite news|url=http://www.kcra.com/article/lobbyist-accuses-la-assemblyman-of-sexual-assault/14030267|title=Lobbyist accuses LA assemblyman of sexual assault|date=December 4, 2017}}
On December 5, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced that the Assembly Rules Committee would hire an outside law firm to investigate the incident described by Pamela Lopez, and Dababneh would temporarily step down as chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Rendon63rd/status/937838377625305088|title=The Assembly Rules Committee will hire an outside law firm to investigate the incident described by Pamela Lopez. Assemblymember Dababneh is temporarily stepping down as chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee while the investigation proceeds.|last=Rendon|first=Anthony|date=4 December 2017|website=@Rendon63rd|language=en|access-date=2017-12-06}}
On December 8, Dababneh announced that he would resign at the end of the month.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-matt-dababneh-resignation-20171208-story.html|title=Assemblyman Matt Dababneh to resign following sexual misconduct allegations|last=Mason|first=Melanie|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en-US}} He said he didn't feel pressure to resign because of the allegations, for which he maintains his innocence, but he said he simply no longer felt passionate about lawmaking and was ready for a change.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article188895479.html|title=Matt Dababneh will resign from California Assembly after sex assault allegation|last=Koseff|first=Alexei|date=2017-12-08|work=The Sacramento Bee|access-date=2017-12-30|language=en-US|issn=0890-5738}}
After hearing of Dababneh's resignation, Lopez said this was only the beginning if he wanted to truly atone for his actions. She called on him to donate his 2018 campaign money (reported to be over a million dollars) to a rape crisis or trauma center. Lopez also announced that day she'd heard from several other women with allegations against Dababneh that ranged from sexual harassment to assault.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "Preliminary findings by an independent investigator hired by the Assembly Rules Committee substantiated Lopez’s allegation in June {2018}. The conclusion was based on interviews with Lopez and more than 50 witnesses. Dababneh also participated in the investigation."
As of 2020, Dababneh's defamation case against his accuser was pending.{{cite web | url=https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2020/02/metoo-me-too-defamation-libel-accuser-sexual-assault/ | title=She said, he sued: How libel law is being turned against MeToo accusers }}
Career
Prior to being elected to the state assembly, for eight years he was the district chief of staff and senior aide to United States Congressman Brad Sherman of the 30th U.S. Congressional district.
=2014 California State Assembly =
{{see also|California State Assembly elections, 2014}}
Dababneh took office in January 2014, after winning the November 2013 election to complete the remaining 2014 term vacated by the 2013 resignation of Bob Blumenfield to represent Los Angeles City Council District 3. Dababneh won the seat in closely contested run-off election after finishing 329 votes ahead of his opponent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20131210/susan-shelley-concedes-race-to-matt-dababneh-in-assembly-district-45-race|title=Susan Shelley concedes race to Matt Dababneh in Assembly District 45 race|website=www.dailynews.com|access-date=2016-06-14}} He won a full term in 2014, and secured a spot in the general election of 2016 finishing as the top vote getter in June primary with 49.24% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Dababneh|title=Matt Dababneh - Ballotpedia|website=ballotpedia.org|access-date=2016-06-14}} This came after Dababneh received more than $350,000 in outside money in support of his re-election bid.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160517/outside-money-pours-into-san-fernando-valleys-assembly-district-45-race?source=most_viewed|title=Outside money pours into San Fernando Valley's Assembly District 45 race|website=www.dailynews.com|access-date=2016-06-14}} Prior to the June 2016 primary he faced criticism from local Democratic activists for positions he had taken while in office.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160529/democratic-assemblyman-matt-dababneh-faces-criticism-from-his-party-as-election-nears|title=Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh faces criticism from his party as election nears|website=www.dailynews.com|access-date=2016-06-14}}
In March 2017, Dababneh coauthored the controversial California Senate Bill 649 {{cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB649|title=SB-649 Wireless telecommunications facilities.|website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov|access-date=2017-03-23}} which would remove a city's ability to control where the technology is placed and transfer that power to the state {{cite web|url=http://www.kcra.com/article/cities-take-stand-against-california-bill-for-5g-antenna-placement/9568681|title=Cities take stand against California bill for 5G antenna placement|website=www.kcra.com|access-date=2017-04-26}} and is considered "an unconstitutional bill that forcibly exposes neighborhoods to constant, hazardous 4G/5G microwave radiation."{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170602005869/en/California-Senate-Passed-SB.649-%E2%80%94-Unconstitutional-Bill|title=California Senate Passed SB.649 — An Unconstitutional Bill That Forcibly Exposes Neighborhoods to Constant, Hazardous 4G/5G Microwave Radiation|website=www.businesswire.com|access-date=2017-06-02}}
Electoral history
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 45th State Assembly district special election, 2013
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Matt Dababneh
| votes = 6,088
| percentage = 24.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Susan Shelley
| votes = 5,205
| percentage = 21.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Jeff Ebenstein
| votes = 3,407
| percentage = 13.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Chris Kolski
| votes = 3,141
| percentage = 12.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Andra Hoffman
| votes = 2,477
| percentage = 10.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Damian Carroll
| votes = 1,680
| percentage = 6.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Elizabeth Badger
| votes = 679
| percentage = 2.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Dennis De Young
| votes = 673
| percentage = 2.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Armineh Chelebian
| votes = 624
| percentage = 2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = No party preference
| candidate = Eric Lewis
| votes = 432
| percentage = 1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Dan McCrory
| votes = 262
| percentage = 1.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 24,668
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change
| title = California's 45th State Assembly district Special runoff election, November 2013
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Matt Dababneh
| votes = 14,984
| percentage = 50.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Susan Shelley
| votes = 14,655
| percentage = 49.4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 29,639
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 45th State Assembly district election, 2014
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Matt Dababneh (incumbent)
| votes = 23,208
| percentage = 54.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Susan Shelley
| votes = 19,227
| percentage = 45.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 42,435
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Matt Dababneh (incumbent)
| votes = 45,321
| percentage = 57.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Susan Shelley
| votes = 34,055
| percentage = 42.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 79,376
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2016 California State Assembly =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2016}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 45th State Assembly district election, 2016
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Matt Dababneh (incumbent)
| votes = 42,135
| percentage = 49.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jerry Kowal
| votes = 22,899
| percentage = 26.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Doug Kriegel
| votes = 20,387
| percentage = 23.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 85,421
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Matt Dababneh (incumbent)
| votes = 111,148
| percentage = 66.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jerry Kowal
| votes = 56,257
| percentage = 33.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 167,405
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}