Steve Fox (politician)

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.[1] 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.[2] Fox later switched his political affiliation and became a Democrat.

Steve Fox
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 36th district
In office
December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2014
Preceded bySteve Knight
Succeeded byTom Lackey
Personal details
Born
Steven Gregory Fox

(1953-01-27) January 27, 1953 (age 71)
Boyle Heights, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSharon Fox
Children2
Residence(s)Palmdale, California, U.S.
OccupationLawyer, Politician

Fox won his seat in 2012 by only 145 votes over his Republican opponent, Lancaster City Councilman Ron Smith.[2] He became the first Democrat to win election to the legislature in the area in 36 years,[3] despite having been outspent in the election by more than 12-to-one.[4] In 2014, Fox sought a second term to the state Assembly, losing to Palmdale City Councilman Tom Lackey by a 60% to 40% margin.[5]

Fox ran again for the state Assembly against Lackey in 2016, however he lost by a 54% to 46% margin.[6]

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

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Fox was charged with sexually harassing two female employees in 2014 while in the State Assembly.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

California State Assembly

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2012 election

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California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2012
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Smith 15,097 35.1
Democratic Steve Fox 14,160 32.9
Republican Tom Lackey 13,795 32.0
Total votes 43,052 100.0
General election
Democratic Steve Fox 66,005 50.1
Republican Ron Smith 65,860 49.9
Total votes 131,865 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2014 election

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California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey 15,095 41.1
Democratic Steve Fox (incumbent) 12,055 32.8
Republican JD Kennedy 4,460 12.2
Republican Suzette M. Martinez 3,390 9.2
Democratic Kermit F. Franklin 1,706 4.6
Total votes 36,706 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey 42,107 60.2
Democratic Steve Fox (incumbent) 27,866 39.8
Total votes 69,973 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2016 election

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California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 35,019 48.2
Democratic Steve Fox 21,541 29.6
Democratic Darren W. Parker 11,236 15.5
Democratic Ollie M. McCaulley 4,891 6.7
Total votes 72,687 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 77,801 53.1
Democratic Steve Fox 68,755 46.9
Total votes 146,556 100.0
Republican hold

2018 election

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California's 36th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 35,628 60.3
Democratic Steve Fox 23,447 39.7
Total votes 59,075 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 66,584 52.1
Democratic Steve Fox 61,310 47.9
Total votes 127,894 100.0
Republican hold

2020 election

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2020 California's 36th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 45,255 53.0
Democratic Steve Fox 14,771 17.3
Democratic Johnathon Ervin 6,615 7.8
Democratic Diedra M. Greenaway 5,084 6.0
Democratic Michael P. Rives 4,055 4.8
Democratic Ollie M. McCaulley 3,729 4.4
Democratic Lourdes Everett 3,405 4.0
Democratic Eric Andrew Ohlsen 2,440 2.9
Total votes 85,354 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Lackey (incumbent) 102,442 55.2
Democratic Steve Fox 83,240 44.8
Total votes 185,680 100.0
Republican hold

District 39

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2022 California's 39th State Assembly district election[10]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Andre Marsh 13,572 38.1
Democratic Juan Carrillo 10,706 30.0
Democratic Andrea Rosenthal 7,746 21.7
Democratic Steve Fox 3,615 10.1
Total votes 35,639 100.0

Personal life

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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

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  1. ^ "Steve Fox wins Assembly seat! Smith seeking recount". Antelope Valley Times. December 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Van Oot, Torey (December 2, 2012). "Democrat pulls ahead to win Southern California Assembly seat". Capitol Alert. Sacramento Bee.
  3. ^ Bostwick, Charles F. (December 3, 2012). "Upset for the ages: Fox beats Smith". Antelope Valley Press.
  4. ^ "CA-Assembly: Democrats win 55th seat, expand supermajority". DailyKos. December 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "LA Times". touch.latimes.com.
  6. ^ "UPDATE: November to bring rematch between Lackey, Fox in Assembly race".
  7. ^ Mason, Melanie (18 September 2014). "Democratic Assemblyman Steve Fox sued by former employee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Assembly Paid $100K to Settle Harassment Claims Against Ex-Lawmaker". 19 October 2017.
  9. ^ White, Jeremy B. (7 August 2015). "California Assembly agrees to pay six figures to settle lawsuit against former lawmaker". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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