George Runner

Since his election to the State Assembly in 1996, George Runner has served on the Assembly Republican leadership team first as Minority Whip, then as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee for three consecutive years.

Runner also currently serves on the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, Health, and Housing and Community Development. Additionally, he is a member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Runner has also been appointed to the Select Committee on Aerospace Industry, the Select Committee on Long-Term Planning for Commercial and General Aviation Airport Capacity and the Joint Committee to Develop a Master Plan for Education.

Prior to his election to the California State Assembly, Runner served the city of Lancaster as a Councilman, Vice Mayor and Mayor. During his mayoral term, the California Business Journal named Lancaster California's No. 1 mid-size city with which to do business. In 1977, Runner founded Desert Christian Schools, one of the largest private, interdenominational preschool through high schools in the state. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

After attending local public schools in Lancaster, Runner received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Redlands and a graduate certificate in Management from Azusa Pacific University. He married Sharon Oden, and this year they celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. They have two children, a son, Micah, and a daughter, Rebekah.

Many California groups and organizations have recognized Assemblyman Runner's leadership. Honors received by Runner include:

• 1998 Legislator of the Year - California Aerospace Technology Assn.
• 1998 Legislator of the Year - Community College Association
• 1999 Outstanding Legislator of the Year - CA State Sheriff's Assn.
• 1999 Legislator of the Year - Regional Boys & Girls Club of America
• 1999 Legislator of the Year - California Redevelopment Association
• 2000 Legislator of the Year - California State University
• 2000 Outstanding Legislator of the Year - CA State Sheriff's Assn.
• 2000 Legislator of the Year - League of California Cities
• 2000 Legislator of the Year - Council of College & Military Educators
• 2000 Legislator of the Year - CA Network of Educational Charters

Runner has also received recognition from numerous local clubs and organizations including the Korean-American Association, Grace Resource Center, Friends of Desert Haven, Antelope Valley Bar Association, Antelope Valley School Boards Association and the Penny Lane Foster Family Agencies.

Runner has held many local leadership positions such as past President of the League of California Cities, Desert/Mountain Division, former Board Member of the Lancaster Economic Development Corporation, and the Antelope Valley YMCA. He is also a member of the Lancaster Rotary.

Some of Runner's successful legislative measures include his Categorical Reform bill, a pilot project which streamlines how funds are designated based on a school's individualized needs; Runner's Military Family's bill, which provides a permanent exemption from non-resident tuition at all University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges for active military personnel and their families; the HOV Lane bill, which made the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on State Route 14 available to single-occupant drivers during non-commuter hours; the Joint Strike Fighter tax credit, which provided $250 million in tax credits for wages and equipment used in the production of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF); and Proposition 11, authored by Runner in 1998, to allow local governments to enter into sales tax revenue sharing agreements.

As a thoughtful conservative, Runner's priorities within the Legislature will continue to focus on improving economic prosperity, business growth, education excellence, and family preservation for all Californians.