Catharine Baker

Catharine Baker
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 16th district
In office
December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2018
Preceded byJoan Buchanan
Succeeded byRebecca Bauer-Kahan
Personal details
Born
Catharine Ann Bailey

(1971-05-01) May 1, 1971 (age 53)
Cathedral City, California
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDaniel
Children2
Residence(s)Dublin, California
Alma materUniversity of Chicago[1]
UC Berkeley School of Law[1]
OccupationAttorney, Politician
WebsiteAssembly (archived)
Campaign

Catharine Bailey Baker (born May 1, 1971) is an American attorney and politician from California. Baker was a Republican member of the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2018.[2] She has served on the California Fair Political Practices Commission (the state's ethics commission) since 2021.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Baker was born as Catharine Ann Bailey in Cathedral City, California.[6]

In 1993, Baker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago. In 2000, Baker earned a JD degree in Law from UC Berkeley School of Law.[6]

In 2000, Baker started her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Alicemarie Huber Stotler, a judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California.[6]

In 2001, Baker practiced law as an attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP until 2011.[6] In 2011, Baker practiced law as an attorney at Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel.[6][7]

California State Assembly

On November 4, 2014, Baker won the election and became a Republican member of California State Assembly for District 16, which encompasses Lamorinda and the Tri-Valley region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Baker defeated Dublin City Councilman Tim Sbranti with 51.6% of the votes.[8][9] On November 8, 2016, as an incumbent, Baker won the election and continued serving District 16. Baker defeated Pleasanton City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio with 55.9% of the vote.[10]

On November 6, 2018, as an incumbent, Baker sought a third term but narrowly lost the election with 49% of the votes. Baker was defeated by attorney Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.[11][6]

During her time in office, Baker was the only Republican to represent any portion of the Bay Area at either the federal or the state level.[12][13] A piece of legislation she authored was AB 434: State Web accessibility which came in effect on July 1, 2019.[14]

Electoral history

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014
California's 16th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Catharine Baker 31,632 36.7
Democratic Tim Sbranti 25,217 29.2
Democratic Steve Glazer 19,636 22.8
Democratic Newell Arnerich 9,794 11.4
Total votes 86,279 100.0
General election
Republican Catharine Baker 71,452 51.6
Democratic Tim Sbranti 67,152 48.4
Total votes 138,604 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2016 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 16th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Catharine Baker (incumbent) 71,906 53.2
Democratic Cheryl Cook-Kallio 63,307 46.8
Total votes 135,213 100.0
General election
Republican Catharine Baker (incumbent) 129,585 55.9
Democratic Cheryl Cook-Kallio 102,290 44.1
Total votes 231,875 100.0
Republican hold

2018 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018
California's 16th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Catharine Baker (incumbent) 69,360 56.6
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan 53,269 43.4
Total votes 122,629 100.0
General election
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan 111,222 51.0
Republican Catharine Baker (incumbent) 106,683 49.0
Total votes 217,905 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Awards

Post-Assembly career

After leaving the California State Assembly, Baker has returned to private practice as an attorney, and is currently Special Counsel at Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel, advising businesses and non-profit organizations.[18]

In August 2019, Baker joined the board of Livermore Lab Foundation, a nonprofit organization,[19] and was named the President of Diablo Regional Arts Association.[20]

In December 2020, State Controller Betty Yee appointed Baker to a seat on the five-member California Fair Political Practices Commission for a four-year term beginning in January 2021.[3][4][5]

Personal life

Baker's husband is Dan Baker. They have two children. Baker and her family live in Dublin, California.[6][17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Meet Catharine — Catharine Baker for Assembly". Bakerforassembly.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  2. ^ "Members | California State Assembly". Assembly.ca.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  3. ^ a b "Controller Yee Appoints Former Assemblywoman to FPPC". California State Controller. December 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Sheeler, Andrew (December 15, 2020). "Abolish the death penalty? + An addition to the FPPC + Bill to ban faithless electors". Sacramento Bee.
  5. ^ a b White, Jeremy B. (December 14, 2020). "Catharine Baker appointed to FPPC". Politico.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Catharine Baker's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "Honorable Catharine B. Baker Special Counsel". hogefenton.com. 18 September 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  8. ^ "November 4, 2014 General Election". joincalifornia.com. November 4, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  9. ^ "Meet Catharine Baker, Bay Area's Only Republican Assembly Member". kqed.org. November 13, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "November 8, 2016 General Election". joincalifornia.com. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "November 6, 2018 General Election". Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  12. ^ Wildermuth, John (May 10, 2016). "Catharine Baker, Bay Area's only GOP lawmaker, tries to keep seat". San Francisco Chronicle.
  13. ^ Garofoli, Joe (February 3, 2019). "'Your brand is toxic': Bay Area's last GOP lawmaker couldn't overcome Trump". San Francisco Chronicle.
  14. ^ "Digital Democracy California - AB 434: State Web accessibility: standard and reports".
  15. ^ "Women of Excellence - Meet Our 2017 NFWL Elected Women of Excellence". 18 February 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  16. ^ "Assemblywoman Baker Name CSBA Legislator of the Year". independentnews.com. March 8, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  17. ^ a b c "Catharine Baker Name as the JFKU's 2019 Keynote Commencement Speaker". jfku.edu. 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  18. ^ "Honorable Catharine B. Baker". hogefenton.com. 18 September 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  19. ^ "Former Legislator Catharine Baker Picked for LLF Board". patch.com. September 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "In brief: Former Assemblywoman Baker now art group's President". eastbaytimes.com. August 19, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2019.