Description
David Kelley, a Republican, served California as a State Assembly Member from 1979 through 1992, as a State Senator from 1993
through 2000, and again as a State Assembly Member from 2000 through 2001. The David Kelley Papers consist of 18 cubic feet
of textual records and cover the years 1981 to 2002. The records are organized into the following record series: Bill Records,
1979-1986; Bill Files, 1981-2002; Correspondence, 1979-1987; and Press Releases, 1981-1983.
Background
David Kelley, a Republican, served California as a State Assembly Member from 1979 through 1992, as a State Senator from 1993
through 2000, and again as a State Assembly Member from 2000 through 2001. Kelley is one of the "Proposition 13 Babies" elected
during the tax revolt of 1978, defeating incumbent Democrat Tom Suitt. He represented the 75th Assembly District, a large
portion of western Riverside County, which included the cities of Corona, Hemet, Norco, San Jacinto, Palm Springs, and parts
of Lake Elsinore and Riverside. Kelley won reelection in 1982 to represent the newly reapportioned 73rd Assembly District,
which covered a large portion of western Riverside County, including the cities of Corona, Hemet, Norco, San Jacinto, Palm
Springs, and parts of Lake Elisnore and Riverside. In 1992, he won election as State Senator to represent the 37th Senatorial
District, spanning the southeast corner of the state. The district includes all of Imperial County and most of eastern Riverside
and San Diego counties. It includes the cities of Blythe, Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert
Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Poway, Rancho Mirage,
Santee, Westmoreland, and parts of Escondido and San Diego. Other communities included are Alpine, Borrego Springs, Lakeside,
Ramona Rancho San Diego, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, Winter Gardens and part of Spring Valley. After representing the 37th
Senatorial District for eight years David Kelley returned to the Assembly after reaching his term limits. Kelley served the
80th Assembly District for one term (2001-2002), a district that covered much of the same constituents that Kelley served
as State Senator including all of Imperial County and the eastern half of Riverside County, the cities of Blythe, Brawley,
Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperia, Indian Wells, Indio, La
Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Westermored, and the communities of Thousand Palms and Valle Vista. Kelley
did not seek reelection after voting for the 2001 budget. Along with Kelley, three other Republicans voted for the budget.
One did not seek reelection and the other two failed to maintain their seats during the next election.