Shawn Steel

Early life

Steel graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1964 growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Steel's lifetime of conservative political activism began in 1964 as a leader in the San Fernando Valley Youth for Goldwater [YFG]. YFG was a youth group supporting Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona for the U.S. presidency. After the Goldwater defeat he helped form numerous chapters of Young Americans for Freedom [YAF] in the Los Angeles region in 1965. In 1966, Steel was statewide chairman of Youth for Reagan, for high school students, Ronald Reagan for governor of California. In 1967, Steel became state chairman of California YAF, leading opposition against left wing student groups on college campuses.

Education

Steel received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with California state teaching credentials, from California State University, Northridge, his Master of Arts from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and his Juris Doctor from Northrop Law School.

California Republican Party

Shawn Steel, was elected Treasurer of the California Republican Party in 1995 and served 2 two year terms. In 1999 he won a hotly contested election for the CRP's Vice Chair position against the grandson of Leonard Firestone, the rubber baron founder. In 2001 in a rematch, former Assemblyman Brooks Firestone challenged Steel for the CRP's chairman's position. This was considered a classic moderate vs conservative struggle. Steel prevailed. Seven years later Steel challenged the sitting Treasurer of the Republican National Committee [RNC] Tim Morgan.On February 24, 2008. He won against incumbent Tim Morgan, 590-380 reflecting a major triumph for Steel.

As California Republican Party Chairman, Steel was a co-founder of the Recall Davis movement. Along with Ted Costa, of Peoples Advocate, they were responsible for organizing the historic recall campaign against Governor Davis. The success of the Recall paved the way for Arnold Schwarzenegger's election as governor. His was the first signature on the recall petition. Steel and Ted Costa served Governor Davis with the Notice of Recall Petition.

As Chairman Steel was criticized by senior California Republican leaders as well as national leaders. Corporate raider Gerry Parsky, and President George W. Bush's unofficial representative in California questioned the strategy of recalling Gray Davis. Some party leaders objected to Steel's efforts to unseat Davis, fearing it was too risky. Steel at the CRP convention in February 2003 convinced an overwhelming majority to endorse the Recall, thus turning the tide for the recallcampaign. Shawn Steel's leadership and conservative principles helped spearhead the recall of a sitting California Governor (Gray Davis) from Office.

California Club for Growth

In 2004, Steel and former California State Assemblyman Tony Strickland formed the California Club for Growth, which is designed to promote free market Republican candidates.

Public service

Steel teaches Ethics and Jurisprudence at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles. He also is a regular lecturer at Palmer College Of Chiropractic West [San Jose] and Southern California University of Health Services [Whittier]

Steel was appointed by Republican Governor Pete Wilson to the California State Acupuncture Board. He was appointed in 1995 and served until 2000. Steel was elected by his peers as Chairman of the Acupuncture Board for two one-year terms.

Private life

Shawn Steel’s wife, Michelle Park Steel serves as Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She was first elected in 2006 as a Member of the California Board of Equalization with over 9,000,000 constituents. Michelle is America’s highest elected Korean American. Cheyenne, his oldest daughter, recently left Washington DC as a Communications Director for US Senator David Vitter and moved with her husband, Captain Wolf Klotz, a psychiatrist for the US Navy. Siobhan, his youngest daughter, still lives in Washington DC and is enrolled in Georgetown University seeking a Masters Degree in National Security.