Scott Wilk

Scott Thomas Wilk, Sr. (born March 16, 1959) is an American politician who has served as the California State Senate minority leader since January 20, 2021. He is a Republican representing the 21st district, encompassing Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served two terms in the California State Assembly. He was also a College of the Canyons Trustee.

Scott Thomas Wilk
Minority Leader of the California Senate
Assumed office
January 20, 2021
Preceded byShannon Grove
Member of the California State Senate
from the 21st district
Assumed office
December 5, 2016
Preceded bySharon Runner
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 38th district
In office
December 3, 2012  November 30, 2016
Preceded byCameron Smyth
Succeeded byDante Acosta
Personal details
Born
Scott Thomas Wilk

(1959-03-16) March 16, 1959
Lancaster, California
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Vanessa Safoyan Wilk
Children2
ResidenceSanta Clarita, California
Alma materCalifornia State University, Bakersfield
OccupationPolitician

Background

Wilk earned his B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee. He is a member of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Granada Hills Rotary Club.

Wilk was appointed to the Santa Clarita College District Board of Trustees on August 23, 2006. He was re-elected in November 2007 and November 2011. He also worked as a small business owner, ran a communications firm, and was a former legislative staffer.[1]

Prior elected office

Wilk was elected to represent the 38th Assembly District on November 5, 2012. He received 56.9% of the vote. Wilk was re-elected in 2014, receiving 66.3% of the vote. While in the Assembly, Wilk served on the following committees: Budget Committee (Sub 4 - State Administration), the Governmental Organization Committee, and the Joint Committee on Arts.

While in the Assembly, Wilk was the principal co-author of the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act. He also co-authored a $420 million tax incentive that helped land a $60 billion aerospace contract expected to create 6,500 new jobs in the High Desert. In 2014, Scott was selected by the non-partisan, non-profit State Legislative Leaders Foundation to attend the Emerging Leaders Program held at the University of Virginia.

2014 California State Assembly

California's 38th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Wilk (incumbent) 32,550 66.9
Democratic Jorge Salomon Fuentes 16,082 33.1
Total votes 48,632 100.0
General election
Republican Scott Wilk (incumbent) 63,249 66.3
Democratic Jorge Salomon Fuentes 32,095 33.7
Total votes 95,344 100.0
Republican hold

Committee membership

Wilk serves as vice chair of the Senate committees on Education, Rules, and Governmental Organization. He is also a member of the committees on Budget, Business, Professions & Economic Development; Transportation, Energy & Commerce.

Endorsements

Wilk has received endorsements from AFSCME Local 3299 (American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees), the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR), California Professional Firefighters, California ProLife Council, Gun Owners of California, National Rifle Association, PawPAC - California's Political Action Committee for Animals, and Peace Officers Research Association of California.[2]

In 2020, Wilk was endorsed by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, a news media organization owned by Richard Budman and his wife, Chris.[3] In 2019, The Signal listed Wilk at no. 2 on its list of Santa Clarita Valley's most influential people.[4]

Personal life

Wilk and his wife, Vanessa, reside in Santa Clarita with their two dogs.[5] They have two adult children, Scott, Jr. and Alison.[5]

Wilk's wife, Vanessa, is a district director for California State Assembly member Tom Lackey. She is also the chair of the City of Santa Clarita's Arts Commission[6] and a member of the board of directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging.[7]

References

  1. http://www.signalscv.com/archives/54256/
  2. "Endorse Scott Wilk for State Senate". Scott Wilk For State Senate. 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  3. Signal Editorial Board (September 19, 2020). "Our View | Our Endorsements for Legislature". The Santa Clara Valley Signal. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  4. "Santa Clarita's Most Influential 2019". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  5. "About". Scott Wilk For State Senate. 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  6. "Arts Commission". City of Santa Clarita. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  7. "Board of Directors". Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging and SCV Senior Center.
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