Steve Fox (politician)
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Steve Fox
|image = Steve Fox, California Assembly (2013).jpg
|alt =
|state_assembly = California
|district = 36th
|term_start = December 3, 2012
|term_end = November 30, 2014
|predecessor = Steve Knight
|successor = Tom Lackey
|birth_name = Steven Gregory Fox
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|01|27}}
|birth_place = Boyle Heights, California, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = American
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Sharon Fox
|children = 2
|residence = Palmdale, California, U.S.
|occupation = Lawyer, Politician
|signature =
|footnotes =
}}
Steve Fox is an American politician and former member of the California State Assembly. A Democrat, Fox represented the 36th district, encompassing much of the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Valley, as well as small portions of Kern County and San Bernardino County. Prior to being elected to the state Assembly, he worked as a public school teacher, an attorney, and trustee of Antelope Valley College. Fox formerly served as a governing board member of the Antelope Valley Hospital.{{cite news
|url=http://www.theavtimes.com/2012/12/02/steve-fox-wins-assembly-seat-smith-seeking-recount/
|title=Steve Fox wins Assembly seat! Smith seeking recount
|newspaper=Antelope Valley Times
|date=December 2, 2012
}} Fox ran for Assembly in 2008 as a Republican and lost the Republican primary to Steve Knight, who went on to win the general election. Fox later switched his political affiliation and became a Democrat.
Fox won his seat in 2012 by only 145 votes over his Republican opponent, Lancaster City Councilman Ron Smith.{{cite news
|url=http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/12/democrats-pulls-ahead-to-win-southern-california-assembly-seat.html
|title=Democrat pulls ahead to win Southern California Assembly seat
|newspaper=Sacramento Bee
|department=Capitol Alert
|date=December 2, 2012
|first=Torey
|last=Van Oot
}} He became the first Democrat to win election to the legislature in the area in 36 years,{{cite news
|url=http://www.avhidesert.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2562
|title=Upset for the ages: Fox beats Smith
|newspaper=Antelope Valley Press
|date=December 3, 2012
|first=Charles F.
|last=Bostwick
}} despite having been outspent in the election by more than 12-to-one.{{cite web
|url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/02/1166671/-CA-Assembly-Democrats-win-55th-seat-expand-supermajority
|title=CA-Assembly: Democrats win 55th seat, expand supermajority
|publisher=DailyKos
|date=December 2, 2012
}} In 2014, Fox sought a second term to the state Assembly, losing to Palmdale City Councilman Tom Lackey by a 60% to 40% margin.{{cite web|url=http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81864756/|title=LA Times|website=touch.latimes.com}}
Fox ran again for the state Assembly against Lackey in 2016, however he lost by a 54% to 46% margin.{{cite web|url=http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/153099/|title=UPDATE: November to bring rematch between Lackey, Fox in Assembly race|publisher=}}
Fox sought another rematch against Lackey in 2018. He lost again, but by a smaller margin than in the previous two elections.
Fox sought another rematch against Lackey in 2020. He lost by a wider margin than in the prior two campaigns.
In 2022, Fox sought election to the California State Assembly in the newly drawn 39th District. He was defeated in the primary by a wide margin.
Lawsuits and settlements
Fox was charged with sexually harassing two female employees in 2014 while in the State Assembly.{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Melanie |title=Democratic Assemblyman Steve Fox sued by former employee |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-steve-fox-lawsuit-20140918-story.html |accessdate=15 July 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=18 September 2014}} A former legislative director claimed that he exposed himself to her when she drove to his residence to give him a ride to work, that she was asked to perform non-legislative related tasks for Fox, and that she was fired when she reported his behavior. In October 2017, the California State Assembly paid $100,000 to the plaintiff to settle the case.{{Cite web|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/10/19/steve-fox-assembly-sexual-harassment-settlement/|title=Assembly Paid $100K to Settle Harassment Claims Against Ex-Lawmaker|date=19 October 2017}}
A second former aide charged that he forced her to work on his campaigns and for his law firm without pay while she was employed on his staff, though she didn't accuse him of sexual misconduct. The State Assembly paid $110,000 settlement in 2015 to settle the lawsuit.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Jeremy B. |title=California Assembly agrees to pay six figures to settle lawsuit against former lawmaker |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article30420606.html |accessdate=15 July 2020 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=7 August 2015}}
California State Assembly
=2012 election =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2012}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2012
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Ron Smith
| votes = 15,097
| percentage = 35.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 14,160
| percentage = 32.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey
| votes = 13,795
| percentage = 32.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 43,052
| 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 = Steve Fox
| votes = 66,005
| percentage = 50.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Ron Smith
| votes = 65,860
| percentage = 49.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 131,865
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
| loser = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2014 election =
{{see also|California State Assembly elections, 2014}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2014
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey
| votes = 15,095
| percentage = 41.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox (incumbent)
| votes = 12,055
| percentage = 32.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = JD Kennedy
| votes = 4,460
| percentage = 12.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Suzette M. Martinez
| votes = 3,390
| percentage = 9.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kermit F. Franklin
| votes = 1,706
| percentage = 4.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 36,706
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey
| votes = 42,107
| percentage = 60.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox (incumbent)
| votes = 27,866
| percentage = 39.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 69,973
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
| loser = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2016 election =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2016}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2016
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey (incumbent)
| votes = 35,019
| percentage = 48.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 21,541
| percentage = 29.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Darren W. Parker
| votes = 11,236
| percentage = 15.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Ollie M. McCaulley
| votes = 4,891
| percentage = 6.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 72,687
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey (incumbent)
| votes = 77,801
| percentage = 53.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 68,755
| percentage = 46.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 146,556
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2018 election =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2018}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2018
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey (incumbent)
| votes = 35628
| percentage = 60.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 23447
| percentage = 39.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 59075
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey (incumbent)
| votes = 66584
| percentage = 52.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 61310
| percentage = 47.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 127894
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2020 election =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2020}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = 2020 California's 36th State Assembly district election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey (incumbent)
| votes = 45,255
| percentage = 53.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 14,771
| percentage = 17.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Johnathon Ervin
| votes = 6,615
| percentage = 7.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Diedra M. Greenaway
| votes = 5,084
| percentage = 6.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Michael P. Rives
| votes = 4,055
| percentage = 4.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Ollie M. McCaulley
| votes = 3,729
| percentage = 4.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Lourdes Everett
| votes = 3,405
| percentage = 4.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Eric Andrew Ohlsen
| votes = 2,440
| percentage = 2.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 85,354
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Tom Lackey (incumbent)
| votes = 102,442
| percentage = 55.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 83,240
| percentage = 44.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 185,680
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 39=
{{see also|2022 California State Assembly election}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = 2022 California's 39th State Assembly district election{{cite web |title=Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-primary/sov/104-state-assemblymember.pdf|website=California Secretary of State |access-date=July 16, 2022}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Paul Andre Marsh
| votes = 13,572
| percentage = 38.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Juan Carrillo
| votes = 10,706
| percentage = 30.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Andrea Rosenthal
| votes = 7,746
| percentage = 21.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Steve Fox
| votes = 3,615
| percentage = 10.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 35,639
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Fox and his wife Sharon, a retired school teacher, have been married for 32 years. They have two children, Rebecca Fox, a First 5 Los Angeles organizer, and Joshua Fox, a police officer. They have three grandchildren.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/SteveFoxLaw/ Law Firm Facebook Page]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Steve}}
Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
Category:People from Palmdale, California
Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature