Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Wesley Chesbro, California Legislator
- Abstract:
- Wesley Chesbro was a State Senator from 1998-2006 and a member of the State Assembly from 2008-2014. The Wesley Chesbro Papers consist of three series: Bill Files, 1999 to 2006 and 2009-2014, Office Files, 1999-2014, and Speeches Files, 2009-2013. The records document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature.
- Extent:
- 9.5 cubic feet
- Language:
- Languages represented in the collection: English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Wesley Chesbro papers consist of 9.5 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records reflecting Chesbro’s activities during his time as a State Senator from 1998 until 2006, and then as an Assembly Member from 2008 until 2014. The collection is organized into the following record series: Bill Files, 1999-2006 and 2009-2014; Office Files, 1999-2014; and Speeches Files, 2009-2013. The Bill Files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by Wesley Chesbro include a wide array of subjects. He authored bills concerning environmental issues, mental health, services to the developmentally and physically disabled, elder care, rural healthcare, Native American tribal concerns, and the beer and wine industries. Office Files relate to his legacy as a member of the Legislature as well as to support grants for historic sites in his districts. Office Files also concern recognition of the contributions of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz and his wife Jean, who lived in Chesbro’s district; and press photographs from the Democratic Party's response to the Governor’s 2006 Budget. Speeches Files include speeches he gave covering topics such as education, the environment, disabilities, natural resources, and transportation.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Wesley Chesbro, Democrat, was a State Senator from 1998 to 2006, and a State Assembly Member from 2008 to 2014. As a State Senator, his 2nd District included Eureka, Santa Rosa, Napa, Ukiah and Vallejo in the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Solano. As a State Assembly Member, his 1st District included Arcata, Crescent City, Eureka, Santa Rosa and Ukiah in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma (partial) and Trinity counties. Following redistricting after the 2010 census, he represented the 2nd Assembly District which included Arcata, Crescent City, Eureka, Garberville, Santa Rosa and Ukiah within Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma (partial) and Trinity counties.
Wesley Chesbro was born in Glendale, California, on August 20, 1951. He attended Humboldt State University from 1969 to 1973. He did not complete his degree at that time due to becoming heavily involved in various endeavors with the local community. He co-founded the North Coast’s first recycling center in 1971, as well as the North Coast Environmental Center in that same year. Chesbro was the first Executive Director of both organizations. In addition, he was elected to the Arcata City Council from 1974 to 1980. He served as a Humboldt County Supervisor from 1980 to 1990. Chesbro later returned to college and received his bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior in 1996 from the University of San Francisco. He is married with two sons.
In 1990, Chesbro was appointed to the California State Integrated Waste Management Board with the goal of assisting the state in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, and increasing use of recycled materials. He served on the board from 1990 to 1998 and again from 2006 to 2008.
Wesley Chesbro was elected to the State Senate in 1998 and continued there until he was termed out in 2006. He was then elected to the State Assembly in 2008 and continued his service there until he reached his term limit in 2014. His districts were predominantly rural. Timber and livestock as well as tourism and the wine industry were major economic factors in the districts.
Wesley Chesbro retired after his final term in the State Assembly.
ChronologyDate Event 1951 Born in Glendale, California 1998 Elected to California State Senate 1999 Began term in the State Senate representing the 2nd District 1999-2000 Chair of Revenue and Taxation Committee 1999-2006 Chair of Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry, Chair of Select Committee on Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health 2000 Co-Chair of Joint Committee on Mental Health Reform 2003-2006 Chair of Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review 2006 Ended term in State Senate 2008 Elected to California State Assembly 2009 Began term in the State Assembly representing the 1st District 2009-2010 Chair of Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee 2009-2014 Chair of Select Committee on Disabilities 2011-2014 Chair of Natural Resources Committee, Chair of Select Committee on Wine, Chair of Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture 2013 After redistricting, began term representing the 2nd Assembly District 2014 Ended term in State Assembly - Acquisition information:
- California State Archives acquired the Wesley Chesbro papers, in a series of seven transfers, beginning in 2003 (Accession Numbers: 2003-043, 2003-062, 2005-016, 2005-035, 2006-071, 2006-256, 2015-031).
- Accruals:
-
No further accruals are expected.
- Physical location:
- California State Archives
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
1020 "O" StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 653-2246