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Title: John Lewis Papers
Dates: 1981-2000
Collection number: LP504
Creator:
John Lewis, California Legislator
Collection Size:
9 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: John R. Lewis, Republican, was a State Assembly Member from 1980-1991 and a State Senator from 1991-2000 representing Orange
County, California. The John Lewis Papers consist of 9 cubic feet of records, plus electronic materials, including Bill Files,
1981-2000 and Subject Files, 1981-1985. The bill files document Lewis' work during his nine terms as a member of the California
State Legislature. Lewis' focused on a variety of local government concerns in Orange County. He authored legislation targeted
tax reduction and cutting wasteful government spending through tax credits, as well as welfare, unemployment and disability
insurance reform. He was also concerned with eliminating government regulations around the insurance industry, and banking
and financial institutions. Lewis introduced legislation to promote charter schools and implement educational reforms. The
subject files contain expanded information on Lewis' interests in the early part of his legislative career. These include
contemporary topics such as the implementation of the Gann Limit, reapportionment, and the creation of the California State
Lottery. Several files related to the Assembly Committees on Finance and Insurance, Housing and Community Development, and
Public Employees and Retirement reflect Lewis' committee work.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
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.
[Identification of item], John Lewis Papers, LP504:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of
State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the John Lewis Papers in two transfers beginning in 1995, accession numbers: 95-11-30
and 2000-11-38.
John R. Lewis, Republican, was a State Assembly Member from 1980-1991 and a State Senator from 1991-2000 representing Orange
County, California. He served one term from December 1, 1980 - November 30, 1982 as representative of the 70th Assembly District
including the cities of Anaheim Hills, El Modena, Olive, Orange, Orange Park Acres, North Tustin, Placentia, Villa Park, and
Yorba Linda in northeastern Orange County. Following redistricting, Lewis served five terms from December 6, 1982 - May 16,
1991 representing the 67th Assembly District including the communities of Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Yorba Linda, El Toro
U.S.M.C. Air Station, and Silverado Canyon in Northeastern Orange County. After a special election to fill a vacancy, Lewis
represented the 35th Senate District from May 16, 1991 - November 30, 1992, which includes the cities of Newport Beach, Laguna
Beach, Irvine, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa in coastal Orange County. After reapportionment, Lewis served
his final two terms from December 7, 1992 - November 30, 2000 in the 33rd Senate District. Included within its boundaries
are the communities of eastern Anaheim, Fullerton, La Habra, Mission Viejo, Orange, Placentia, San Juan Capistrano, Santa
Ana, Tustin, and Yorba Linda in Orange County.
Lewis was born on November 2, 1954, in Los Angeles, California. He was raised in Orange County and graduated from Valencia
High School in Placentia. Lewis attended the University of Southern California. Lewis became a member of the Republican State
Central Committee in 1974 when, at the age of twenty, Lewis ran an unsuccessful campaign for office in 47th Assembly District.
Two years later, Lewis took a semester off to work on the 1976 Reagan for President Campaign. He served as a member of the
Reagan for President California Executive Committee and was one of the youngest delegates to the 1976 Republican National
Convention. After graduating from USC with a B.A. in political science, Lewis was a businessman and Republican political staffer
before launching his own political career. Lewis married fellow USC alum Suzanne Henry in 1989. They lived in the City of
Orange where they raised their children, James and Jennie.
In 1980, Lewis became the youngest member of the California Legislature when he won the seat for the 70th Assembly District
two days before his 26th birthday. In his freshman legislative term, Lewis served as Vice Chairman of the Assembly Revenue
and Taxation Committee. After redistricting, Lewis was elected to the 67th Assembly District in 1982, a position he held until
May 16, 1991. Throughout his Assembly career, Lewis participated in the Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee and spent
several years on the Assembly Housing and Community Development, Public Employees and Retirement, and Ways and Means Committees.
In 1982, he was a member of the State Board of Directors California Conservative Union and elected one of five Outstanding
Young Californians of 1982 by the California Junior Chamber of Commerce. Lewis was named Legislator of the Year by the Orange
County Republican Party in 1987. That same year, he was also named Legislator of the Year by California Republican Assembly.
During his eleven years in the California State Assembly, Lewis served for five years as Chairman of the Assembly Republican
Caucus Elections Committee.
In May 1991, a special election was held to fill the seat of State Senator John Seymour, among others. Seymour had been appointed
by newly elected Governor Pete Wilson to fill Wilson's United States Senate seat. In the Republican primary, Lewis defeated
both Assemblymembers Nolan Frizzelle and Doris Allen for the nomination for the seat 35th State Senate District to replace
John Seymour and won by 67.5 percent. Following redistricting, Lewis was elected to represent the 33rd Senate District. According
to a 1992 Los Angeles Times article, Lewis was "one of the most conservative senators in Sacramento." During his time in the
State Senate, Lewis served as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Business and Professions, Insurance, Rules, and Elections and
Reapportionment Committees. He was also a member of the Joint Rules Committee and was Vice Chairman from 1999-2000. In the
wake of the 1995 Orange County bankruptcy, Lewis authored key bills which helped Orange County get back on its feet again.
Lewis spent five years in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee and, in 1995-1996 was a member of the Special Committee
on Local Government Investments. Lewis was also on the Select committee on Higher Education and he was elected to the Placentia-Yorba
Linda School District Hall of Fame in 1993 for his successful work on behalf of local schools. According to the 1995 Pocket
Directory of the California Legislature, Lewis' "Legislative priorities include: reducing excessive taxes; eliminating costly
state regulations; implementing back-to-basics educational reforms; cutting wasteful government spending and reforming the
criminal justice system to ensure swift punishment for lawbreakers." During his tenure in the legislature, Lewis focused on
reducing regulations and improving the insurance industry. Upon his legislative retirement in 2000, Lewis, along with a former
business partner, founded the Lewis Consulting Group where he currently serves as the President.
The John Lewis Papers consist of 9 cubic feet of records, plus electronic materials, including Bill Files, 1981-2000 and Subject
Files, 1981-1985.
The bill files document his legislative activity during his nine terms as a member of the California State Legislature. Lewis'
legislation targeted tax reduction and cutting wasteful government spending through tax credits and welfare reform, as well
as unemployment and disability insurance reform. He was also concerned with eliminating government regulations around the
insurance industry, and banking and financial institutions. Lewis introduced legislation to implement educational reforms
and the promotion of charter schools as an alternative to the California public school system. Lewis worked to protect the
rights of homeowners and small businesses and promote public safety. Lewis was also focused on local government water and
air quality issues with legislation directed at the Yorba Linda County Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, the Orange
County Flood Control District, and the South Coast Air Quality Control District.
The subject files contain expanded information on Lewis' legislative interests in the early part of his legislative career.
These include contemporary topics such as the implementation of the Gann Limit, reapportionment, and the creation of the California
State Lottery. Several files related to the Assembly Committees on Finance and Insurance, Housing and Community Development,
and Public Employees and Retirement reflect Lewis' committee work. Additional files focused on Orange County, the cities of
Anaheim and Orange, the Rancho Santiago Community College District, and a proposed Southern California bullet train highlight
Lewis' focus on local issues. The subject files also contain several files relating to the work of his district office.
No further accruals are expected.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Lewis, John R.
Municipal bankruptcy - California - Orange County
Orange County (Calif.)
Republican Party (Calif.)
Waste in government spending
Charter schools