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Inventory of the Ernest N. Mobley Papers
LP175:167-229  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Ernest N. Mobley papers,
    Date (inclusive): 1967-1976
    Collection number: LP175:167-229
    Creator: Mobley, Ernest N.
    Extent: 3 cubic feet
    Repository: California State Archives
    Sacramento, California
    Abstract: Ernest M. Mobley, Republican, was a member of the Assembly from 1967-1976. Some of his legislative interests were local government and wildlife conservation.
    Physical location: California State Archives
    Language: English.

    Administrative Information

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Ernest N. Mobley Papers, LP175:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

    Acquisition Information

    The California State Archives acquired the Ernest N. Mobley Papers following his final Assembly term.

    Alternative Forms of Material Available

    Some of these records are available on microfilm at the California State Archives.

    Biography

    Ernest M. Mobley, Republican, was a member of the Assembly from 1967-1976. He represented the 33rd District, which included the city of Fresno in Fresno County. After redistricting in 1973, Mobley represented the 31st District that included parts of the counties of Fresno and Tulare.
    He was born on November 1, 1918 in Shadyside, Ohio. He attended public schools in Shadyside, and Rio Grande (Ohio) College. In 1943, he earned a B.S. from Ohio University. He served in the European Theater during World War II. His service was recognized with the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. He then served as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was the Fresno Country Administrative Officer, 1956-1962 and Santa Monica City Manager, 1962-1964. In addition, he was a rancher. Assembly Member Mobley married Lillian Van Zant. They had one daughter, Jill.
    He was a charter member of the National Association of County Administrator. He was also a member of the Fresno Elks Lodge, the Scottish and York Rite Bodies, the American Legion, AMVETS, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also belonged to the Fresno County Farm Bureau, Sun Maid Raisin Growers Association, and the California Almond Growers Exchange.
    Assembly Member Mobley was elected to the State Assembly of California in 1966.
    According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), he served on the following committees:

    California State Assembly, 1967-1976

    • Standing Committees
    • Agriculture, 1969-1976
    • Constitutional Amendments, 1967-1968
    • *Vice Chair, 1967-1968
    • Efficiency and Cost Control, 1971-1972
    • *Vice Chair, 1972
    • Finance and Insurance, 1973-1974
    • Local Government, 1969
    • Municipal and County Government, 1967-1968
    • Resources and Land Use, 1975-
    • Revenue and Taxation, 1970-1972
    • Rules, 1969-1975
    • *Vice Chair, 1975
    • Water, 1967-1968, 1976
    • *Chair, 1976
    • Ways and Means, 1973-1974
    • Select Committees
    • County Jurisdiction, 1972-1974
    • Farm Labor Violence, 1974
    • Implementation of Career Education, 1975-1976
    • Manpower Development, 1972-1974
    • *Vice Chair, 1973-1974
    • Open Space Lands, 1973-1974
    • *Vice Chair, 1973-1974
    • Joint Committees
    • Legislative Budget, 1969-1976
    • Legislative Organization, 1969
    • Organization and Financing of Local Government, 1972
    • *Chair, 1972
    • Rules, 1970
    • Permanent Subcommittee
    • Water, 1975
    As a member of the legislature, he also served on the State Electronic Date Processing Policy Commission , 1969-1970 and the Little Hoover Commission, 1971-1976.

    Scope and Content

    The Ernest N. Mobley Papers consist of Assembly Bill Files, 1967-1976, Legislative Counsel Opinions, 1967-1976, and records of the Joint Committee on Organization and Financing of Local Government, 1971-1972. The bill files document his legislative activity during all of his terms as a member of the California State Legislature. Often the first folder on a legislative session includes a summary of bills and resolutions introduced by the Assembly Members and their outcomes (see LP175:167 for an example from 1968).
    One of his legislative interests was local government. His own experience as a county and city administrator made him especially aware of the challenges facing these officials; his successful bill AB1614 (1968) established guidelines for local government wishing to establish commissions to negotiate with unions and exempted their negotiations from the Brown Open Meeting Act. AB2264 (1967) allowed county to expand the kind of services they provided to their residents.
    Because of the importance of agriculture to his district and his own experience as a rancher, he also introduced a number of related bills. Some focused on the growing of cotton: AB681 (1967) introduced regulations to discourage the spread of the pink bollworm and AB2931 (1975-1976) delayed implementation of clean-air regulations that would have prevented growers from burning waste after harvesting. He also maintained an interest in veterans' affairs, including the support of measures to increase the availability of Cal-Vet loans to California Vietnam Veterans, such as the successful Proposition 3 of 1974.
    Assembly Member Mobley also introduced the Duck Stamp bill (AB770) which required duck hunters to buy an additional stamp with their hunting license. The revenue from the program went to the protection of the habitats of migratory birds in California and elsewhere. It was highly supported by Ducks Unlimited, an organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing, restoring and managing wetlands. Other measures focused on the needs of Fresno and the surrounding area, such as AB284 (1970) that introduced a pilot Youth Conservation Corp program centered in state parks and forests in the Fresno area.
    The Legislative Counsel Opinions are responses by the Office of Legislative Counsel to inquiries from Assembly Member Mobley on a wide range of issues of interest to himself and his constituents.
    The limited collection of records of the Joint Committee on Organization and Financing of Local Government document Mobley's role as chair of this committee created by ACR 93 in 1971. The committee researched available sources of financing for city and county governments and made recommendations about methods to give these governments more sources. They recommended allowing local governments to impose income taxes in addition to property taxes. One folder documents the activities of Citizen's Committee on Local Governmental Reorganization, a Sacramento organization.

    Arrangement

    Arranged into three series: bill files, Legislative Counsel Opinions, and records of the Joint Committee on Organization and Financing of Local Government.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been associated with these materials in the Archives' automated public access system (currently in development, July 2004).

    Subjects

    Mobley, Ernest N.
    California - - Legislature - - Assembly
    Local government - - Law and Legislation