23 Facts About Dean Florez

Dean Raymond Florez was born on April 5,1963 and is an American former politician who served as a California State Senator from the 16th Senate District, who served from 2002 until the end of his second term in November 2010.

Dean Florez was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 and served two terms.

Dean Florez later announced his support for eventual winner Gavin Newsom.

The grandson of farm laborers, Dean Florez spent his early years in the Colonia outside of the city of Shafter, in Kern County.

Dean Florez graduated from Shafter High School, attended Bakersfield College, and earned his bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA, where he was student body president.

Dean Florez then went on to receive his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dean Florez has legislated in areas of clean air, farm worker safety, high-speed rail, and government accountability.

Dean Florez has served as Chairman of numerous committees with jurisdiction over food and agriculture; water, parks and wildlife; banking, commerce and international trade; and government oversight.

In 2002, as Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Dean Florez led an investigation into the state's software $95 million, no bid contract with Oracle.

Dean Florez sponsored SB 700, which required farms, for the first time ever, to comply with provisions of the Federal Clean Air Act.

Dean Florez worked to establish a Tsunami Warning System in the wake of the Thai tsunamis that devastated tourism in that area.

Dean Florez advocated against the importation and application of sewage sludge in his District and has fought against proposed mega-dumps and super-dairies.

Dean Florez has brought to the forefront of discussion how rural California is often used as the dumping ground for California's waste and societal problems through laws, regulations, and common practice.

Dean Florez spearheaded Measure E in 2006, which banned the spreading of sludge on unincorporated farmland in Kern County.

Dean Florez advocated for agriculture workers to avoid heat illness, which became permanent CalOSHA regulations.

Dean Florez authored the Pesticide Drift Exposure Response Act, which was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2004.

Dean Florez, who represented one of the largest districts in the state, switched to a hybrid vehicle in an effort to save taxpayers money on gas.

Dean Florez worked to establish public and private partnerships that increased access and affordability to open source materials for college students.

Dean Florez's firm specializes in information technology, impact driven startups, procurement processes, water politics and policy.

Dean Florez is regarded as a trusted advisor to key internal and external stakeholder groups ranging from executive teams and management, to C-suite, board of directors, investors, and policymakers.

In 2016, Dean Florez was appointed to the California Air Resources Board, known as CARB or ARB.

Dean Florez was appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon.

Dean Florez has distinguished himself as an advocate for some of the most vulnerable environmental justice communities by fighting for clean air policies and for taking bold action on climate change.