Lynne Leach
Encyclopedia
Lynne C. Leach is a former California State Assembly
woman who served from 1996 until 2002. A Republican
, she represented the more conservative Bay Area suburbs in the East Bay
. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Leach was a businesswoman with her own business, Applied Business Communications, Inc.
with a degree in psychology
.
In 1964, she and her husband Bob moved to California. In 1967 they settled in Walnut Creek
, where they raised their now grown children, Carol and Brian.
left his seat to make a successful run for the State Senate
. She was reelected in 1998 and 2000 by commanding margins.
While serving in the Assembly in Sacramento
, Leach's top priorities were to make California more business-friendly; return the state's schools to their top status, address the transportation challenges of the Bay Area and provide some relief on taxes.
Leach served as Chair of the Assembly Republican Caucus in her first term and as Vice Chair of the Assembly Education Committee in her second and third terms. Other Committee assignments were: Transportation, Insurance, Business and Professions, Jobs and Economic Development, Aging and Long Term Care, Joint Legislative Audit and the Master Plan for California Education (Kindergarten through Higher Education).
Republican Party, and she served as its chairwoman from 1991-1995. During her tenure, she introduced the successful Bootcamp (an annual candidate training program) and the R.E.V.O.L.T. (Republicans educating voters on lower taxes) Committee.
in 2002 and came in third place in the all-party primary with 26% of the vote. In 2003, she launched Lynne Leach Presents… offering informative, inspirational speeches and practical, common sense programs on sales – customer service, communications and leadership to the business and political communities.
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
woman who served from 1996 until 2002. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, she represented the more conservative Bay Area suburbs in the East Bay
East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The East Bay is a commonly used, informal term for the lands on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States...
. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Leach was a businesswoman with her own business, Applied Business Communications, Inc.
Early life
Leach was raised in a blue-collar family. Her father was a sheet metal worker and union member. Her mother was a full-time homemaker. She worked her way through college and in 1963 graduated from Roosevelt UniversityRoosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
with a degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
In 1964, she and her husband Bob moved to California. In 1967 they settled in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
, where they raised their now grown children, Carol and Brian.
Before the Assembly
Leach has been a businesswoman and involved in sales all of her adult life. In 1978 she started her own business, Applied Business Communications, Inc. The firm specialized in sales, customer service and communications training.Communications Training
Communications training develops necessary skills for individuals to be effective in business. Effective communication is vital for the success of personal interactions and for organizational communication. Communication skills are particular to various situations...
Assembly terms
In 1996, Leach was elected to the State Assembly when Richard RaineyRichard Rainey
Richard Rainey was a Republican politician from Walnut Creek, California, a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area. He served in the California State Assembly from 1992 until 1996 and then served in the State Senate from 1996 until 2000 when he was defeated for reelection by Tom Torlakson, a...
left his seat to make a successful run for the State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
. She was reelected in 1998 and 2000 by commanding margins.
While serving in the Assembly in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, Leach's top priorities were to make California more business-friendly; return the state's schools to their top status, address the transportation challenges of the Bay Area and provide some relief on taxes.
Leach served as Chair of the Assembly Republican Caucus in her first term and as Vice Chair of the Assembly Education Committee in her second and third terms. Other Committee assignments were: Transportation, Insurance, Business and Professions, Jobs and Economic Development, Aging and Long Term Care, Joint Legislative Audit and the Master Plan for California Education (Kindergarten through Higher Education).
Republican Party activism
From 1988 to 1996, Lynne was actively involved in the Contra Costa CountyContra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
Republican Party, and she served as its chairwoman from 1991-1995. During her tenure, she introduced the successful Bootcamp (an annual candidate training program) and the R.E.V.O.L.T. (Republicans educating voters on lower taxes) Committee.
Post-Assembly
Leach ran for state schools superintendentCalifornia State Superintendent of Public Instruction
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction of California is the nonpartisan elected executive officer of the California Department of Education. The SPI directs all functions of the Department of Education and executes policies set by the California State Board of Education...
in 2002 and came in third place in the all-party primary with 26% of the vote. In 2003, she launched Lynne Leach Presents… offering informative, inspirational speeches and practical, common sense programs on sales – customer service, communications and leadership to the business and political communities.
External links
- http://www.lynneleach.com/