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  Runner, George C.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationRepublican  
 
NameGeorge C. Runner
Address
Lancaster, California , United States
EmailNone
Website [Link]
Born March 25, 1952 (72 years)
ContributorSummer Intern
Last ModifedRBH
Jan 10, 2017 12:40am
Tags Widowed - Baptist -
InfoFirst elected in 1996 to the State Legislature, George Runner is the author of the well-known Amber Alert in California that has successfully utilized the Emergency Alert System to involve the general public in the search for abducted children and has resulted in numerous successful reunions of parents and their kids.

Runner served on the Assembly Republican leadership team first as Minority Whip, then as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee for four consecutive years, and finally as a budget advisor. In his capacity as Budget Vice Chair, Runner was successful in negotiating historic tax cuts for Californians, including a 67.5% reduction in the Car Tax, as well as numerous targeted tax credits for various business industries. He also led the fight against the sales tax increase of 2001 and the efforts in 2002 to increase the Car Tax and several other taxes.

Some of Runner's other 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.

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 30th wedding anniversary. They have two children, a son, Micah, and a daughter, Rebekah. Sharon is currently the Assemblywoman for the 36th District.

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

Legislator of the Year- Association for Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs
Legislator of the Year - California Aerospace Technology Assn.
Legislator of the Year - Community College Association
Outstanding Legislator of the Year - CA State Sheriff's Assn.
Legislator of the Year - Regional Boys & Girls Club of America
Legislator of the Year - California Redevelopment Association
Legislator of the Year - California State University
Legislator of the Year - League of California Cities
Legislator of the Year - Council of College & Military Educators
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. Most recently Runner was awarded the Child Protection Award by UC Davis Children's Hospital for authoring California's Amber Alert law.

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.

In the Legislature Runner served on the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, Health, and Housing and Community Development, as well as Budget Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Runner was also 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, which recently completed its work on the Master Plan.

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.

Term limits required Runner to leave the Legislature in December of 2002. He is currently working in Government Relations with the City of Lancaster, CA.


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EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION
Importance? 10.00000 Average

FAMILY
Wife Sharon Runner 00, 1973-Jul 14, 2016

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  11/04/2014 CA Board of Equalization 1 Won 58.58% (+17.16%)
  06/03/2014 CA Board of Equalization 1 - Open Primary Won 59.85% (+19.69%)
  11/02/2010 CA Board of Equalization 2 Won 49.97% (+7.13%)
  06/08/2010 CA Board of Equalization 2 - R Primary Won 35.30% (+5.46%)
  11/04/2008 CA State Senate 17 Won 54.85% (+9.70%)
  06/03/2008 CA State Senate 17 - R Primary Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  01/03/2007 Minority Caucus Chair Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  01/01/2005 CA Senate Minority Caucus Chair Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/02/2004 CA State Senate 17 Won 59.70% (+23.53%)
  03/02/2004 CA State Senate 17 - R Primary Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/07/2000 CA State Assembly 36 Won 63.07% (+30.03%)
  11/03/1998 CA State Assembly 36 Won 62.90% (+28.91%)
  11/05/1996 CA State Assembly 36 Won 64.18% (+28.36%)
ENDORSEMENTS
CA District 08 - Open Primary - Mar 03, 2020 R Jay P. Obernolte
Los Angeles County District Attorney - Runoff - Nov 06, 2012 N Alan Jackson
CA State Assembly 38 - Open Primary - Jun 05, 2012 R Scott Wilk
CA US Senate - R Primary - Jun 08, 2010 R Chuck DeVore
CA Governor - R Primary - Jun 08, 2010 NPA Steve Poizner
CA Lt. Governor - Appointment - Apr 26, 2010 NPA Reject