Ted Gaines represents the people of the 1st Senate District, which takes in all or parts of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento and Sierra counties.
Senator Gaines serves as vice chair of the Senate Insurance Committee and the Transportation and Housing Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee and the Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
Prior to his election to the State Senate in 2011, Ted served the 4th State Assembly District from 2006 - 2011.
As a member of the Assembly, Ted fought tirelessly for the principles of limited government, lower taxes and private-sector job growth. His experience as a small business owner has helped Ted bring a pro-business perspective to government.
During his tenure, Gaines authored legislation to cap the state's spending and set aside money into a rainy-day budget reserve fund. Gaines also authored the Flexible Work Week Act of 2009, giving employers the flexibility to set new, alternative work schedules. Gaines also introduced legislation to reduce the number of burdensome regulations on the state's books and provide tax-relief for hard-working California families.
Known as one of the most accessible Legislators in Sacramento, Gaines has annually held more than 50 town halls, community meetings and various district outreach events.
In the Assembly, Gaines served as Vice Chair of the prestigious Assembly Rules Committee and was also a member of four additional committees, including Banking and Finance, Health, Labor and Employment and the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism & Internet Media Committees.
Gaines has received an "A" grade from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association for four consecutive years and has also received a perfect "Job Creator" rating from the California Chamber of Commerce and has consistently appeared on the California Small Business Association's honor roll, demonstrating his strong advocacy for taxpayer-friendly measures.
In 2009, Gaines was honored with the California Regional Technology Leader distinction award from AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the nation's largest high-tech trade association for his leadership in support of technology.
Ted's family first came to Placer County during the Gold Rush when his great, great grandfather James Kaseberg built and owned a sheep ranch next to the present day site of the Placer County Fair Grounds. The ranch home from the 1860's still stands in Roseville.
Upon graduating with a degree in Business Administration from Lewis and Clark College in Oregon, Ted returned home to follow his dreams of being a small business owner. Today, Ted is running his own successful business, serving as the owner of Point West Insurance of Sacramento.
Prior to his election to the Legislature, Ted began his service in to the Placer County Board of Supervisors in 2000 and reelected in 2004.
In addition to his service in government, Ted is a longtime member of Bayside Covenant Church and served on the Honorary Committee for the Peace for Families Capitol Campaign. He also previously served as President of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Sacramento.
Ted has been married to his beautiful wife Beth since 1985. Beth and Ted are blessed with six children – five daughters and one son.
Biography