26 Facts About Diane Harkey

Diane Lynn Harkey was born on June 20,1951 and is an American politician who served as a member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing its fourth district from 2015 to 2019.

Diane Harkey was a Republican candidate for California's 49th congressional district seat in the 2018 election, losing to Democrat Mike Levin.

Diane Harkey has served as a vice-president in the banking industry and has had a 30-year career in corporate banking and finance.

Diane Harkey has served as a board member of the Ocean Institute and Dana Point Fifth Marine Regiment Support Group, a trustee for the Capistrano Valley Symphony, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Diane Harkey served on the Dana Point City Council from 2004 to 2008, and during that period, in 2007, she served as the city's mayor.

In 2006, Diane Harkey ran against then-Assemblyman Tom Harman for the 35th State Senate District in one of the closest California State Senate races in the state's history.

Diane Harkey received the endorsements of the Republican Congressional delegation in the district, Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, former opponent State Senator Tom Harman, over 80 elected officials in Orange and San Diego Counties, and the Republican Assembly Women's Caucus.

Diane Harkey served in the Assembly from November 2008 to November 2014.

In 2014, Diane Harkey became term-limited in the State Assembly and ran for a seat on the California State Board of Equalization representing the 4th district, which encompasses Imperial, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties, as well as small portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Diane Harkey chose not to seek reelection in 2018, choosing instead to run for Congress to represent California's 49th congressional district.

Diane Harkey represents the communities of Aliso Viejo, Coto De Caza, Dana Point, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, California, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Trabuco Canyon.

Diane Harkey has been an outspoken opponent of California High-Speed Rail, introducing several pieces of legislation to defund the project.

In 2017, the California Department of Finance audited the Board of Equalization and found a conference in Diane Harkey's district had brought in 98 board employees to perform duties including "registration, parking lot duty, and break area facilitation".

Diane Harkey denied that she was involved in redirecting staff to these activities.

The audit found that the aide was allowed to work from the agency's New York office, and that Diane Harkey's staff "used their positions of authority to improperly influence, and arguably pressure, BOE executives to ensure placement" of the aide to a permanent civil service position.

Diane Harkey supports taking care of the environment but has stated America is damaging its economy with unnecessary climate change laws.

Diane Harkey believes America shouldn't be leading the global fight against climate change when other countries like India and China are releasing higher levels of greenhouse gases.

Diane Harkey said she's not a supporter of gun control laws "because the bad guys will always have guns".

Diane Harkey has stated that school shootings are actually the result of drugs and mental health issues, as well as children spending too much time with games and cell phones during their formative years.

Diane Harkey has stated children should not have access to cell phones in schools, and that schools should be doing more to identify and address children with mental health issues.

Diane Harkey has stated support for locking down schools and arming teachers with guns if they're comfortable with it, but believes that isn't a country-wide solution.

Diane Harkey has stated that the Affordable Care Act has caused healthcare costs to rise in California.

Diane Harkey has stated that Medicare is a failing program and does not support its expansion.

Diane Harkey believes the federal government should be doing more to instill healthy habits in children and focus on improving healthcare technology to bring down healthcare costs.

Diane Harkey has stated the NIH should be doing more to treat mental illness.

Diane Harkey has been endorsed by Donald Trump and supports some of his policies, though has said he lacks "charisma" and his mannerisms are "not attractive", often making women uncomfortable.