Dante Acosta

Dante Acosta
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 38th district
In office
December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2018
Preceded byScott Wilk
Succeeded byChristy Smith
Personal details
Born (1963-01-01) January 1, 1963 (age 61)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCarolyn
Children3
Residence(s)Santa Clarita, California, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia State University, Northridge

Dante Acosta (January 1, 1963)[1] is an American politician who served one term in the California State Assembly. He also was appointed to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board of directors but resigned after six months.[2]

Early life and education

Acosta was born January 1, 1963 the son of Hollywood actor Rodolfo Acosta and Clidine Roper.[3] He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.[4] He previously worked as a car salesman and financial advisor.[5][6]

Political career

Acosta was elected to the Santa Clarita City Council in 2014. He then ran as a Republican to represent California's 38th State Assembly district, encompassing Simi Valley, far northern San Fernando Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. Acosta won election to the State Assembly in November 2016.

In 2018, Acosta was defeated for re-election in a rematch with his 2016 opponent, Democrat Christy Smith. In December 2018, shortly after losing the election, he was nominated and appointed to serve a four-year term on the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Board of Directors.[7] Two days after his nomination, Acosta opened a campaign committee for the 2020 election.[8] Six months later, in August 2019, Acosta resigned from the Water Board stating he was moving to El Paso, Texas to be a district director in the U.S. Small Business Administration.[9]

Personal life

Acosta is married to Carolyn with whom he has two children.[6] Their eldest son was a US Army combat medic who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011.[6]

2018 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018
California's 38th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dante Acosta (incumbent) 49,825 53.6
Democratic Christy Smith 43,050 46.4
Total votes 92,875 100.0
General election
Democratic Christy Smith 95,751 51.5
Republican Dante Acosta (incumbent) 90,298 48.5
Total votes 186,049 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2016 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 38th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christy Smith 44,755 44.7
Republican Dante Acosta 36,236 36.2
Republican Tyler Izen 10,998 11.0
Republican Jarrod R. Degonia 8,215 8.2
Total votes 100,204 100.0
General election
Republican Dante Acosta 102,977 52.9
Democratic Christy Smith 91,801 47.1
Total votes 194,778 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "Join California - Dante Acosta". joincalifornia.com.
  2. ^ Painter, Ryan (January 7, 2019). "Water board confirms Dante Acosta's nomination". The Santa Clarita Valley Proclaimer. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  3. ^ Money, Luke (April 22, 2014). "Acosta to be officially seated during special City Council meeting today". Santa Clarita Valley Signal. p. A6.
  4. ^ "Biographies of Assembly District 38, 44 candidates". Ventura County Star. May 30, 2018. p. 10A.
  5. ^ "Dante Acosta: Santa Clarita City Council". scvhistory.com. Santa Clarita Valley Public Television. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Blasotti, Tony (May 18, 2012). "House District is new for Simi". Ventura County Star. p. 2A.
  7. ^ Martin, Kathie (December 18, 2018). "SCV Water Confirms L.A. County Supervisor Barger's Appointment of Dante Acosta to its Board of Directors" (PDF). Santa Clarita Valley Water. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Nguyen Do, Mai (December 13, 2018). "Dante Acosta opens 2020 Assembly campaign committee". The Santa Clarita Valley Proclaimer. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  9. ^ Holt, Jim (August 16, 2019). "Acosta resigns from water board, moving to Texas". Santa Clarita Valley Signal.