Steve Bennett (California politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Steve Bennett

|image = California State Assembly Member Steve Bennett.jpg

|office = Member of the California Assembly

|constituency = 37th district (2020–2022)
38th district (2022–present)

|term_start = December 7, 2020

|term_end =

|predecessor = Monique Limón

|successor =

|office2 = Member of the Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors from the 1st district

|term_start2 = January 2001

|term_end2 = December 7, 2020

|predecessor2 = Susan Lacey

|successor2 = Matt LaVere

|office3 = Member of the Ventura, California city council

|term_start3 = 1993

|term_end3 = 1997

|predecessor3 =

|successor3 =

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|12|31}}

|birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|spouse = Leslie Ogden

|children = 4

|party = Democratic

|education = Brown University
Butler University (MA)

|signature = Steve Bennett signature.jpg

}}

Stephen Bennett (born December 31, 1950) is an American activist, educator, and politician serving as a member of the California State Assembly from the 38th district as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his tenure in the state legislature, he was active in local politics in Ventura, California, and Ventura County, California, with him serving on the city council and board of supervisors.{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2000 |title=2 Supervisors to Target Public Safety Funding |page=272 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980988/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605130403/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980988/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2020 |title=Matt LaVere Appointed Supervisor for the 1st District of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors |work=Ventura County |url=https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/VCNC/press_releases/2020-12-07_Matt_LaVere_Appointed_1st_District_Supervisor_Release.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605221341/https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/VCNC/press_releases/2020-12-07_Matt_LaVere_Appointed_1st_District_Supervisor_Release.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2021}}

Bennett was born in Indiana, and educated at Brown University and Butler University. He worked as an educator at Calabasas High School and Nordhoff High School before moving to Ventura. He became active in local politics in Ventura by working with the Voters for Alternate Sites and serving as a leader of the Alliance for Ventura's Future.

He was elected to the Ventura city council in 1993, after an unsuccessful write-in candidacy in 1991, and served until 1997. Following his tenure in the city council he served on the county board of supervisors. During his tenure on the board of supervisors he served as chair and he ran a campaign for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, but withdrew. Bennett was elected to the state house in the 2020 election.{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2020 |title=Steve Bennett sworn in to serve Assembly District 37 |work=Steve Bennett |url=https://a37.asmdc.org/press-releases/20201207-steve-bennett-sworn-serve-assembly-district-37 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605221059/https://a37.asmdc.org/press-releases/20201207-steve-bennett-sworn-serve-assembly-district-37 |archive-date=June 5, 2021}}

Early life and education

Steve Bennett was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 31, 1950. He graduated from Brown University with an honours degree in economics in 1972, and graduated from Butler University with a master's degree in education in 1976. He worked as a high school teacher who taught economics and American history for twenty years at Calabasas High School and Nordhoff High School. He married Leslie Ogden, with whom he had four children, and moved to Ventura, California.{{Cite news |title=Biography |work=California State Assembly |url=https://a37.asmdc.org/committees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604195415/https://a37.asmdc.org/biography |archive-date=June 4, 2021}}{{Cite news |title=Steve Bennett |work=Cal Matters |url=https://calmatters.org/legislator-tracker/steve-bennett-1950/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830020722/https://calmatters.org/legislator-tracker/steve-bennett-1950/ |archive-date=August 30, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2000 |title=District 1 Supervisorial Candidates |page=414 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980401/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605124649/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980401/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bennett later led the counseling department and worked as assistant principal at Nordhoff High School after leaving the city council.{{Cite news |date=April 20, 1998 |title=After-School Jobs May Be Hurting Grades, Experts Warn |page=188 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78969035/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605031102/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78969035/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=February 27, 2000 |title=Debate Emerges Over 3 Elected County Posts |page=397 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980582/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605125220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980582/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} He admires Harry S. Truman and William Jennings Bryan as his political heroes.{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1997 |title=Outgoing Council Member Remains a Force for Nature |page=207 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78968091/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605025122/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78968091/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Career

=Activism=

In the 1990s Bennett served as the spokesman for the Voters for Alternate Sites organization which opposed the construction of a new campus by the California State University near the Robert Taylor Ranch. He also worked as one of the leaders of the Alliance for Ventura's Future which aided in the election of three candidates to the Ventura city council.{{Cite news |date=March 31, 1990 |title=Group's Poll Shows Opposition to Taylor Ranch Campus |page=475 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78945832/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604201424/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78945832/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} He later served as president of the Alliance for Ventura's Future.{{Cite news |date=February 1, 1991 |title=Group Urges City to Preserve Greenbelts |page=470 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78946153/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604202045/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78946153/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

=Ventura City Council=

Bennett ran for one of three seats on the Ventura city council as a write-in candidate in 1991, and placed fifth out of eighteen candidates.{{Cite news |date=September 22, 1991 |title=Ghost of a Chance |page=787 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78947261/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604203805/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78947261/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1991 |title=Bennett: Advocate of Slow Growth Joins Council Race |page=245 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78946500/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604202557/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78946500/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=November 5, 1991 |title=1991 Ventura, California election results |page=3 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1991-Nov.-SOV.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604202932/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1991-Nov.-SOV.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2021}} During the campaign he had been endorsed by Patagonia, Inc. and the Ventura Sierra Club.{{Cite news |date=October 7, 1991 |title=Sierra Club Chapter Endorses Bennett |page=306 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78946909/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604203136/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78946909/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1991 |title=Patagonia Endorses Villeneuve, Bennett |page=464 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78947076/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604203445/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78947076/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bennett won election to the Ventura city council after placing second in the 1993 election and during the campaign he spent $21,487.{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1993 |title=1993 Ventura, California election results |page=1 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1993-Nov.-Summary.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604210208/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1993-Nov.-Summary.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=February 1, 1994 |title=Campaign: $222,000 Spent in Race |page=263 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78955190/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604224603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78955190/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} He served on the city council until 1997, when he announced that he would not seek reelection due to a campaign promise to only serve one term.{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1997 |title=Taking a Break |page=217 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78967496/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605024038/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78967496/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Bennett nominated Gary Tuttle, a member of the city council, to serve as mayor in 1995, and initially supported him, but after Jack Tingstrom won the position of mayor by a vote of five to two a second vote was requested by Bennett and Tuttle so that they could unanimously support Tingstrom.{{Cite news |date=December 5, 1995 |title=Council: Jack Tingstrom Wins Ventura Mayor's Contest |page=228 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78961681/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605004805/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78961681/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} During the 1996 presidential election Bennett seconded a motion to allow Republican vice-presidential candidate Jack Kemp to use Ventura's city hall for a rally in the name of "bipartisanship".{{Cite news |date=October 30, 1996 |title=Kemp Will Hold Rally in Front of Ventura City Hall |page=185 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78965044/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605015428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78965044/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

=Ventura County Board of Supervisors=

Susan Lacey, a member of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, retired from her position. Bennett announced that he would seek election to the seat on April 7, 1999.{{Cite news |date=April 8, 1999 |title=Ex-Ventura Councilman to Run for Supervisor |page=315 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78969550/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605032401/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78969550/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bennett won the initial election against Jim Monahan and Rosa Lee Measures and then defeated Monahan in the runoff election.{{Cite news |date=March 7, 2000 |title=2000 Ventura County, California election results |page=5 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2000-March-Summary.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222050538/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2000-March-Summary.pdf |archive-date=December 22, 2012}}{{Cite news |date=March 7, 2000 |title=2000 Ventura County, California election results |page=2 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2000-Nov.-Summary.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604223736/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2000-Nov.-Summary.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2021}} He announced on June 9, 2003, that he would seek reelection and won reelection in the 2004 election against Jeffrey Ketelsen.{{Cite news |date=June 10, 2003 |title=Bennett to Run for a 2nd Term |page=96 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78984126/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605143222/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78984126/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=March 2, 2004 |title=2004 Ventura County, California election results |page=7 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2004-March-Summary.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222051434/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2004-March-Summary.pdf |archive-date=December 22, 2012}} He won reelection without opposition in 2008.{{Cite news |date=June 3, 2008 |title=2008 Ventura County, California election results |page=4 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Summary-Report-June.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605033555/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Summary-Report-June.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2021}} Bennett defeated Bob Roper, Christy Weir, and Neal Andrews in the initial election in 2012, and defeated Roper in the runoff election.{{Cite news |date=June 5, 2012 |title=2012 Ventura County, California election results |page=279 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Statement-of-Vote-Book-_2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114234415/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Statement-of-Vote-Book-_2.pdf |archive-date=November 14, 2012}}{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2012 |title=2012 Ventura County, California election results |page=161 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2012-NOV-StatementOfVotes_Book.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605034952/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2012-NOV-StatementOfVotes_Book.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2021}} He defeated Dave Grau in the 2016 election.{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2016 |title=2016 Ventura County, California election results |page=252 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Statement-of-Votes-Book-Official-Final.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605035537/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Statement-of-Votes-Book-Official-Final.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2021}} Bennett was unable to seek reelection as supervisor for a sixth term due to term limits that were implemented in 2008. Matt LaVere, the mayor of Ventura, was elected to succeed Bennett.{{Cite news |date=December 6, 2020 |title=Bennett leaves county board with trail of wins, to head to Sacramento |work=Ventura County Star |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2020/12/06/end-era-approaches-steve-bennett-steps-down-ventura-county-board-supervisors/6373971002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604195748/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2020/12/06/end-era-approaches-steve-bennett-steps-down-ventura-county-board-supervisors/6373971002/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021}}

During his tenure he served as chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors multiple times and Kelly Long succeeded him as chair after his last term as chair.{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2019 |title=Huber takes issue with platform and Bennett moves up to chairman |work=Ventura County Star |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/01/08/bob-huber-takes-issue-platform-and-steve-bennett-moves-up-chairman/2496772002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605161653/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/01/08/bob-huber-takes-issue-platform-and-steve-bennett-moves-up-chairman/2496772002/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=January 15, 2020 |title=Kelly Long named chairwoman of Board of Supervisors |work=Ventura County Star |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/15/ventura-county-board-of-supervisors-elect-chairperson/4469792002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605161819/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/15/ventura-county-board-of-supervisors-elect-chairperson/4469792002/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021}}

Bennett announced on November 16, 2011, that he would seek election to the United States House of Representatives from California's 26th congressional district, but he announced at the California Democratic Party's state convention that he was withdrawing from the election.{{Cite news |date=November 17, 2011 |title=Democrat will run for Congress |page=15 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78984633/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605144500/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78984633/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=March 9, 2012 |title=L.A. race is state's most notable |page=A8 |work=The Fresno Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78984743/the-fresno-bee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605144722/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78984743/the-fresno-bee/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=February 14, 2012 |title=California: Steve Bennett Drops Congressional Bid |work=Roll Call |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2012/02/14/california-steve-bennett-drops-congressional-bid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605145127/https://www.rollcall.com/2012/02/14/california-steve-bennett-drops-congressional-bid/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021}} Julia Brownley won the seat in the 2012 election.{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2012 |title=2012 election results |page=7 |work=United States House of Representatives |url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2012election.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430190708/https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2012election.pdf |archive-date=April 30, 2021}}

=California State Assembly=

Bennett ran for a seat in the California State Assembly from the California's 37th State Assembly district. He placed second in the primary behind Republican Charles W. Cole and ahead of Democratic candidates Cathy Murillo, Jonathan Abboud, Jason Dominguez, Elsa Granados, and Stephen Blum. He defeated Cole in the general election.{{Cite news |date=March 3, 2020 |title=2020 California election results |page=24 |work=Secretary of State of California |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/complete-sov.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523025412/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/complete-sov.pdf |archive-date=May 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=November 3, 2020 |title=2020 California election results |page=8 |work=Secretary of State of California |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/41-state-assembly.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428115505/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/41-state-assembly.pdf |archive-date=April 28, 2021}}

During Bennett's tenure in the state house he served on the Budget, Education, Elections, Privacy and Consumer Protection, Rules, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife committees.{{Cite news |title=Committees |work=California State Assembly |url=https://a37.asmdc.org/committees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604195110/https://a37.asmdc.org/committees |archive-date=June 4, 2021}}

Bennett is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.{{cite web |title=Legislative Progressive Caucus |url=https://www.assembly.ca.gov/offices-caucuses/legislative-progressive-caucus |website=assembly.ca.gov |publisher=California State Assembly |access-date=11 April 2024}}

Political positions

In 1994, the Ventura city council voted, with Bennett voting in favor, in favor of a resolution opposing Proposition 187, which would not allow illegal immigrants to have access to healthcare or education.{{Cite news |date=October 19, 1994 |title=Council Takes Stand Against Prop. 187 |page=259 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78957810/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604233159/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78957810/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1995, the city council voted four to three, with Bennett voting in favor, in favor of having the Ventura city attorney file a brief in support of the city council of Santa Barbara, California's appeal of a federal court ruling. The ruling declared that an eight-foot bubble ordinance outside family planning clinics was unconstitutional.{{Cite news |date=June 7, 1995 |title=Ventura Backs Safeguards at Family Planning Clinics |page=230 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78960175/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605001817/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78960175/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1997, the city council voted three to three, with Bennett voting against, on legislation that would have implemented term limits on people serving on Ventura's fourteen boards, commissions, and committees.{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1997 |title=Ventura Council Sticks With Status Quo, Won't Restrict City Panelists |page=190 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78966962/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605022937/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78966962/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

=Campaign finance=

Bennett, who had refused to accept donations above $100 during his city council campaign, proposed legislation to limit campaign contributions to $100, but the city council voted four to two against it.{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1994 |title=Ventura Rejects Cap on Campaign Donations |page=237 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78958395/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604234526/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78958395/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} He requested that the campaign contribution limit be placed onto the ballot as a proposition by the city council and the placement was approved by a vote of five to two. The League of Women Voters, Common Cause, Sierra Club, and Voters Coalition of Ventura aided Bennett in the writing of the proposition. The proposition limited campaign donations to $100, but allowed it to be $200 if the candidate agreed to limit their spending to $20,000.{{Cite news |date=January 24, 1995 |title=Campaign Limit Issue to Appear on Ballot |page=141 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78959158/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605000242/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78959158/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bennett's Measure H was passed by voters in the election.{{Cite news |date=October 15, 1995 |title=Measure H |page=300 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78961225/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605004037/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78961225/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=November 7, 1995 |title=1995 Ventura County, California election results |page=1 |work=Ventura County Recorder |url=https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1995-Nov.-Summary.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302140925/https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1995-Nov.-Summary.pdf |archive-date=March 2, 2021}}

The city council voted five to two, with Bennett against, in favor of repealing legislation that prevented organized groups from donating money to candidates.{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1997 |title=Ventura Agrees to End Ban on Organizations Donating to Candidates |page=159 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78967438/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605023806/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78967438/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bennett announced on August 25, 1997, that he would push for a ballot initiative to the 1998 ballot to prohibit organized groups from donating to candidates.{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1997 |title=Bennett Launches New Campaign-Reform Initiative |page=193 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78967688/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605024428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78967688/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} However, he later stated that a proposition was unnecessary after the city council voted to require PACs to report all contributions above $25.{{Cite news |date=October 29, 1997 |title=Finance Reform Law May Be Expanded |page=301 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78968419/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605025839/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78968419/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

During his campaign for a seat on the board of supervisors in the 2000 election he limited individual campaign donations to his campaign to $500.{{Cite news |date=January 14, 2000 |title=Candidate for Supervisor Calls for $500 Cap on Each Contribution |page=339 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980310/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605124405/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78980310/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Ventura County had legislation passed in 1991, which limited campaign contributions to $750 during primaries and $250 during general elections and was changed following the passage of a state law in 1996, but when the state law was found unconstitutional the county's law was invalidated too. Bennett proposed legislation while serving on the board of supervisors to create an eleven-member ethics panel, with all members of the board of supervisors, the district attorney, sheriff, assessor, auditor-controller, treasurer-tax collector, and county clerk-recorder serving on the panel, to enforce the legislation. Individual donors would be limited to donating $500 per candidate and campaign spending would be limited to $75,000.{{Cite news |date=September 11, 2001 |title=Reform: County Eyes Funding Limits |page=216 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78982010/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605133421/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78982010/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=September 11, 2001 |title=Tough Limits Proposed for Office Seekers |page=209 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78982068/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605133641/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78982068/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 2003, he and Supervisor Kathy Long proposed legislation that would limit campaign spending for supervisors to $150,000 and limit spending for countywide officials to $500,000. Their legislation also limited donations to $600 who accepted campaign spending limits while the limit would be $300 for those who did not.{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2003 |title=2 Supervisors Propose New Campaign Rules |page=154 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78983635/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605142315/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78983635/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} The legislation was approved by the board of supervisors by a vote of four to one.{{Cite news |date=March 5, 2003 |title=Supervisors OK Limits on Campaigns |page=106 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78983758/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605142458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78983758/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

=Economics=

Bennett stated that "no way would I support cutting the police budget" during discussion on the city budget and he stated that he was comfortable cutting $100,000 from other areas of the budget.{{Cite news |date=November 21, 1994 |title=Ventura Lifts Hiring Freeze to Replace Police Officers |page=224 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78958261/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210604234117/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78958261/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 2001, Bennett gave support to and voted for increasing the minimum wage to $8 per hour with medical benefits or $10 per hour without medical benefits.{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2001 |title=Supervisors Set to Back Living Wage Ordinance |page=303 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78981431/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605131721/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78981431/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=May 9, 2001 |title=Wages: Supervisors Approve Ordinance |page=277 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78981546/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605132051/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78981546/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bennett called for the board of supervisors to pass a resolution in support of prohibiting new federal leasing for offshore oil and gas drilling.{{Cite news |date=February 6, 2001 |title=Supervisors May Formally Back Offshore |page=219 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78981162/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605131007/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78981162/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Electoral history

=Ventura City Council=

{{Election box begin no change|title = 1991 Ventura, California city council election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Greg Carson

|votes = 11,019

|percentage = 21.24%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Jack Tingstrom

|votes = 8,345

|percentage = 16.09%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Tom Buford

|votes = 8,070

|percentage = 15.56%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Don Villeneuve

|votes = 6,193

|percentage = 11.94%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett (write-in)

|votes = 5,315

|percentage = 10.25%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Jamie Steward-Bentley

|votes = 2,617

|percentage = 5.04%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = S. R. Wyatt

|votes = 1,986

|percentage = 3.83%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Donald R. Boyd

|votes = 1,288

|percentage = 2.48%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Bob Van Der Valk

|votes = 1,207

|percentage = 2.33%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Andrew M. Hicks

|votes = 1,147

|percentage = 2.21%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Keith Burns

|votes = 1,018

|percentage = 1.96%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Marcum Patrick

|votes = 825

|percentage = 1.59%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Kenneth Vernie Jordan

|votes = 625

|percentage = 1.20%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = John T. Sudak

|votes = 565

|percentage = 1.09%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Carroll Dean Williams

|votes = 557

|percentage = 1.07%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Alan Berk

|votes = 449

|percentage = 0.87%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Louis J. Cunningham

|votes = 368

|percentage = 0.71%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Brian Lee Rencher

|votes = 282

|percentage = 0.54%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 51,876

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 1993 Ventura, California city council election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Rose L. Measures

|votes = 14,359

|percentage = 15.86%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett

|votes = 12,220

|percentage = 13.50%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = James L. Monahan

|votes = 10,370

|percentage = 11.45%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Gary Robert Tuttle

|votes = 9,842

|percentage = 10.87%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Clark Owens

|votes = 7,555

|percentage = 8.34%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Kenneth Michael Schmitz

|votes = 7,345

|percentage = 8.11%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Nancy Cloutier

|votes = 7,240

|percentage = 8.00%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Todd J. Collart

|votes = 6,408

|percentage = 7.08%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Virginia K. Weber

|votes = 5,493

|percentage = 6.07%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Dick Massa

|votes = 4,157

|percentage = 4.59%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Charles E. Kistner Jr.

|votes = 2,290

|percentage = 2.53%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Carroll Dean Williams

|votes = 1,660

|percentage = 1.83%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Neil Demeres-Grey

|votes = 1,026

|percentage = 1.13%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Brian Lee Rencher

|votes = 510

|percentage = 0.56%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 65

|percentage = 0.07%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 90,540

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

=Ventura County Board of Supervisors=

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2000 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett

|votes = 17,580

|percentage = 44.19%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Jim Monahan

|votes = 12,555

|percentage = 31.56%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Rosa Lee Measures

|votes = 9,479

|percentage = 23.83%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 165

|percentage = 0.41%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 39,779

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2000 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election runoff}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett

|votes = 36,115

|percentage = 62.62%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Jim Monahan

|votes = 21,323

|percentage = 36.97%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 234

|percentage = 0.41%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 57,672

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2004 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 25,621

|percentage = 75.95%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Jeffrey Ketelsen

|votes = 7,706

|percentage = 22.84%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 405

|percentage = 1.20%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 33,732

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2008 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 20,593

|percentage = 96.91%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 657

|percentage = 3.09%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 21,250

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2012 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 13,000

|percentage = 44.25%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Bob Roper

|votes = 8,177

|percentage = 27.83%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Christy Weir

|votes = 4,472

|percentage = 15.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Neal Andrews

|votes = 3,728

|percentage = 12.69%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 29,377

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2012 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election runoff}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 33,559

|percentage = 67.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Bob Roper

|votes = 29,756

|percentage = 32.78%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 63,315

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2016 Ventura County, California Board of Supervisors 1st district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 26,633

|percentage = 58.87%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Dave Grau

|votes = 18,604

|percentage = 41.13%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 45,237

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

=California State Assembly=

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2020 California State Assembly 37th district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles W. Cole

|votes = 41,945

|percentage = 27.54%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Bennett

|votes = 37,516

|percentage = 24.63%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Cathy Murillo

|votes = 29,498

|percentage = 19.37%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jonathan Abboud

|votes = 12,039

|percentage = 7.91%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jason Dominguez

|votes = 11,177

|percentage = 7.34%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Elsa Granados

|votes = 10,840

|percentage = 7.12%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Blum

|votes = 9,278

|percentage = 6.09%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 152,293

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Bennett

|votes = 166,015

|percentage = 67.57%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles W. Cole

|votes = 79,661

|percentage = 32.43%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 245,676

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2022 California State Assembly 38th district election{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-primary/sov/104-state-assemblymember.pdf|title=June 7, 2022, Primary Election - State Assemblymember|website=California Secretary of State|accessdate=April 17, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/65-state-assemblymember.pdf|title=November 8, 2022, General Election - State Assemblymember|website=California Secretary of State|accessdate=April 17, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 54,690

|percentage = 59.74%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Cole Brucato

|votes = 33,352

|percentage = 36.43%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = No party preference

|candidate = Daniel Wilson

|votes = 3,506

|percentage = 3.83%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 91,548

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 79,709

|percentage = 61.20%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Cole Brucato

|votes = 50,544

|percentage = 38.80%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 130,253

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2024 California State Assembly 38th district election{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-primary/sov/97-state-assembly-updated.pdf|title=March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember|website=California Secretary of State|accessdate=April 17, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2024-general/sov/42-state-assembly.pdf|title=November 5, 2024, General Election - State Assemblymember|website=California Secretary of State|accessdate=April 17, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Bennett (incumbent)

|votes = 51,657

|percentage = 61.58%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Deborah Baber

|votes = 32,233

|percentage = 38.42%