Sam Blakeslee

Educational background

Blakeslee grew up on the Central Coast. He graduated from San Luis Obispo High School and then began a career in construction. Years later, he returned to school and attended Cuesta College, where his father, Earle Blakeslee, taught music when the college first opened in 1965. He later earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in geophysics from University of California, Berkeley. Blakeslee earned a Ph.D. from University of California, Santa Barbara for his research in seismic scattering, micro-earthquake studies, and fault-zone attenuation. He is published in numerous scientific journals.

California Senator and Assemblyman

Blakeslee was elected to the California State Assembly in 2005 and later to the State Senate. Elected by his fellow legislators, Blakeslee served a term as Assembly Minority Leader. In this role, he was a member of the "Big 5" with responsibility for negotiating the state budget and major policy initiatives. He also served and held leadership positions on a variety of legislative committees focusing on agriculture, energy, banking, environmental quality, education and other fields. He successfully authored dozens of bills to evolve and reform policy related to energy, the environment, health care, job creation, lobbying reform, public and worker safety, veterans' affairs and other areas of concern.

E3: Task Force on Energy, Environment and the Economy

While serving in Sacramento, Blakeslee founded and chaired the Task Force on Energy, the Environment and the Economy known as "E3." The group developed strategies to bridge the divide between the environment and the economy by applying emerging technology. E3 worked to bridge the divide between the environment and the economy, demonstrating that there exist reasonable and innovative strategies for growing our economy while remaining stewards of our environment. The E3 approach sought to advance the rapid development of emerging technologies and remove the barriers that prevent the emergence of new markets. E3 emphasized that developing and offering cutting edge technologies are a critical component to meeting the environmental challenges. This work fueled Blakeslee's conviction that advanced technology can be a critical tool in evolving public policy to better meet the needs of the modern world.

Since its creation in 2008, E3 members worked closely with industry leaders and the environmental community to craft legislative proposals and cross party lines and voted in support of key legislation that promoted cleantech, helped prevent oil spills, established incentives for reduced mobile source emissions, and promoted green chemistry.

The average E3 member scored 15 points higher on the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) scorecard than their non-E3 counterpart in the Assembly Republican caucus, and 18 points higher than their prior year score.

Committee Membership:

Vice Chair Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, Vice Chair Assembly Rules Committee, Member Assembly Insurance Committee, Member Assembly Government Organization Committee, Member Assembly Budget Committee, Member Assembly Agriculture Committee, Member Assembly Public Employee Retirement and Social Security, Chair Senate Select Committee on Reform, Recovery and Realignment, Vice Chair Senate Banking Committee , Member Senate Judiciary Committee, Member Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Member Senate Education Committee, Member Senate Select Committee on Seismic Safety, Member Joint Select Committee on State Hospital Safety

Awards and Recognitions

Blakeslee has been recognized for his bipartisan leadership skills by many different organizations over the years. He earned Legislator of the Year awards from the California Police Chiefs and the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. He has been singled out for his dedication to the environment with a Climate Hero Award from the consumer group CALPIRG, a Public Service Award from the American Institute of Professional Geologists, the Rhodes Leadership Award from the League of Women Voters, and recognition for support by the Partners for the Conservation of the Los Osos Coastal Dunes. He has also earned awards for advocacy from organizations representing seniors, the disabled, physicians and dentists and cattle ranchers.

Scientist

Blakeslee worked as a research scientist at Exxon’s research lab in Texas, where he received a patent for inventing an innovative technique that used medical cat-scan technology to create detailed images of geologic formations. Blakeslee later on moved into management.

Financial planner

Blakeslee returned to the Central Coast and joined the family company, Blakeslee and Blakeslee. Blakeslee serves as President of the multi-branch investment and financial planning firm with over $700 million of assets under management. Blakeslee is a Certified Financial Planner, General Municipal Securities Principal (Series 53), General Securities Principal (Series 24) and a General Securities Representative (Series 7).

Community involvement

Prior to his election to the Legislature, Blakeslee served as an elected two-term Trustee for Cuesta Community College. He was first elected in 1998.

In 1999, Assemblyman Blakeslee authored the successful DREAM Initiative. Passing by 75%, the DREAM Initiative was a countywide advisory ballot measure that sought to create a long-term vision for the future of PG&E's 12 mile scenic coastline known as the Diablo Canyon Lands.