Biography
Senator Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, was elected to the California State Senate in 2010 to represent the 15th Senate District, which includes the coastal counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and the county of Santa Clara.
Senator Blakeslee serves as Chair of the Select Committee on Recovery, Reform and Realignment, a bipartisan Senate think tank to develop innovative reform concepts that, if implemented, could address the current structural impediments to job creation, budgetary stability, and accountable governance.
Senator Blakeslee previously served in the California State Assembly from 2004-2010.
During his tenure Blakeslee has compiled an impressive record of bipartisan legislative accomplishments on behalf of his Central Coast constituents. During his first term, Blakeslee has more bills signed into law than any other freshman Republican Assembly Member. During his second term, he had more bills signed into law than any Republican lawmaker (Assembly or Senate). During his third term, he was served to the Vice Chair of Rules and ultimately selected by his colleagues to serve as Minority Leader where he helped forge bipartisan compromise on spending reforms, the budget, and a resolution to the state's thirty year water crisis.
Known as one of the Legislature's most bipartisan members, Senator Blakeslee's legislative achievements include work on job creation, government reform, renewable energy, agriculture, conservation, health care, public safety, disabled rights, consumer protection, and seismic safety.
A research geophysicist by training, Senator Blakeslee has applied his background as a scientist to advance policies addressing energy independence, long-range energy planning and resource conservation.
In 2008, Blakeslee founded E3, the Republican Task Force on Energy, the Environment and the Economy. E3 seeks to develop reasonable and innovative strategies for growing our economy while remaining stewards of our environment. The E3 approach seeks to advance the rapid development of emerging technologies and remove the barriers that prevent the emergence of new markets. Blakeslee's work with E3 was recognized and celebrated by the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters in their 2008 Legislative wrap ups.
"CLCV is happy to note the emergence of a new caucus among Assembly Republicans: Energy, Environment and the Economy, better known as E3.
"Led by Assemblymen Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) and Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita), E3 is a venue for Republicans to identify and support bills that they believe deserve broader support among Republicans. At its most basic, E3 is evidence that some Republicans are personally at odds with the aggressive anti-environmentalism of their caucus...
"The importance of E3 cannot be measured, however, only by floor votes. Indeed, none of the Scorecard bills that passed the Assembly would have failed even without the E3 votes. But environmental bills with bi-partisan support, even from only a few Republicans, often fare better on the governor's desk. Republican support also makes it harder for our lobbying opponents to take Republican votes for granted. Pro-environment Republicans also help challenge the ideological anti-environmental viewpoint that too often afflicts Republican staff analyses, which their caucus depends on heavily. Finally, support for an environmental bill by E3 makes it harder politically for moderate Assembly Democrats to withhold their votes and defeat a bill.
"These dynamics were especially evident in the final votes on AB 1879 and SB 509, the chemical reform bills supported by environmentalists and signed by the governor. For most of the year, the bills were strongly opposed by Republicans and a broad range of industries and were headed for a likely veto or defeat in the legislature. Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee saw an opportunity to amend the bills to be more closely aligned with the governor's Green Chemistry Initiative, and his close work with Assemblyman Mike Feuer signaled to the industries that they should come to the table and negotiate. The end result was legislation that almost all environmental groups and a surprising number of industry stakeholders supported. Following Blakeslee's leadership, 18 Assembly Republicans - a majority of the caucus - voted for AB 1879, and 16 voted for SB 509."
In 2009, Blakeslee was elected by his Republican colleagues to serve as Assembly Minority Leader. In this role he served as chief negotiator for Assembly Republicans and a member of the "Big 5" group of legislative leaders that reaches final agreement on key issues such as the state budget.
As Minority Leader, Blakeslee negotiated a budget that significantly reduced state spending, did not raise taxes, and included significant reforms. Blakeslee was a chief negotiator of the historic bipartisan water agreement which will provide greater water supply and will promote our equal goals of economic development and environmental sustainability. He also led the effort that blocked the most dangerous elements of the early release proposal, as well as defeating the creation of a sentencing commission that would weaken California's public safety laws.
Blakeslee was named "Freshman of the Year" by the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, Legislator of the Year by the California Police Chiefs Association, Outstanding Legislator by the California State Sheriffs Association, was honored by People First of SLO and Tri-Counties Association for Developmental Disabilities for his advocacy on behalf of those with disabilities, and received statewide honors for his work on behalf of staff safety at Atascadero State Hospital.
Senator Blakeslee grew up on the Central Coast and attended public schools. He graduated from San Luis Obispo High School and then began a career in construction. Years later, he returned to school and attended Cuesta Community College, where his father, Earle Blakeslee, taught music when the college first opened in 1965. He later earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in geophysics from University of California, Berkeley. Furthering his education, Senator Blakeslee earned a Ph.D. from University of California, Santa Barbara for his research in seismic scattering, micro-earthquake studies, and fault-zone attenuation. He is published in numerous scientific journals.
After graduating with a Ph.D., Senator Blakeslee worked as a research scientist at Exxon's research lab in Texas, where he received a patent for inventing an innovative technique that used medical cat-scan technology to create detailed images of geologic formations. Later, he moved into management and became a Strategic Planner, where he was responsible for creating and managing Exxon budgets.
Upon returning to the Central Coast, Senator Blakeslee assumed the role of President of the family business, the investment firm Blakeslee & Blakeslee, which was founded in 1971. He applied the lessons he learned at Exxon to strengthen and grow the business by introducing state-of-the-art technologies and systematizing the advancement of high client-service standards. Blakeslee is a Certified Financial Planner, a Registered Securities Principal, and a Registered Municipals Principal. He continues to serve as president of the company, although he has reduced his involvement due to his responsibilities as Senator for the 15th Senate District.
Prior to his election to the Legislature, Senator Blakeslee served on a number of boards - most notably as an elected two-term Trustee for Cuesta Community College. Cuesta Community College is an institution that is known as one of the top-achieving community colleges in the state.
In 1999, Senator Blakeslee authored the successful DREAM Initiative. Passing by 75%, the DREAM Initiative was a countywide advisory ballot measure that sought to create a long-term vision for the future of PG&E's 12 mile scenic coastline known as the Diablo Canyon Lands.
Senator Blakeslee was honored with winning San Luis Obispo's Chamber of Commerce Leadership Alumni Award in 2000. In 2001, he received the Rhode's leadership award from the League of Women Voters. Additionally, he served on the President's Advisory Board of St. Joe's High School in Santa Maria.
Sam is married to Kara Blakeslee and they have two school aged daughters, both of whom attend local public schools, and a son working toward his Ph.D. in Economics at Columbia University. The family lives in San Luis Obispo.
