Todd Spitzer

Early life

Spitzer was born in Whittier, California and raised in nearby Montebello, 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. He excelled in academics, student government, music and theatre, and graduated from Schurr High School in 1978. On November 7, 2008, Spitzer was inducted into the Schurr High School Hall of Fame for his achievements in law and politics.

Education and early career

Spitzer earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA (1982), a master's degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989). While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service. This scholarship provided full tuition and expenses while at Hastings. At Berkeley, Spitzer also received a full academic scholarship.

In 1984-85, Spitzer worked as an English teacher at Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Political career

Spitzer’s first elective office was as a Trustee to the Brea Olinda School Board (1992–1996), where he investigated a grading scandal at Brea Olinda High School involving a former registrar changing students’ grades to enhance their chances of getting into college. As a result, the school’s principal was terminated and the Superintendent forced into early retirement.

In 1996, Spitzer was first elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. While serving on the board, he established the first County restaurant rating system. Spitzer also served on the Orange County Transportation Authority (Chair 2001-2002); as a director of the Orange County Fire Authority (Chair 1999-2000); and as a director of the San Joaquin Hills (Chair 1999 & 2000) and Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agencies. He also served as a director of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, a member of the Orange County Local Redevelopment Authority, a member of the Orange County Library Advisory Board, a member of the Saint Joseph Medical Center Advisory Council and a member of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) of Orange County Advisory Board.

In 2002, Spitzer was elected to the State Assembly from the 71st District, followed by two additional two-year terms. He served on the Assembly Judiciary and Public Safety Committees. He was the only Republican to serve as Chairman of an Assembly standing policy committee—the Select Committee on Prison Construction and Operations. Spitzer also served as Republican Whip, the lead policy spokesman for his Caucus.

On August 24, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation, AB 488, authored by Spitzer and Nicole Parra (D-Hanford), which put sex offender registry on the Internet. Spitzer also was appointed by the Governor to serve as Co-Chair of the state’s first High-Risk Sex Offender and Sexually Violent Predator Task Force. The recommendations from that policy work resulted in AB 1015 (Chu and Spitzer), which created the Sex Offender Management Board, the first sex offender oversight board in California.

Spitzer served as statewide Co-chair for Proposition 69, the DNA Fingerprint initiative, which was passed by voters in November 2004. The same year he was a statewide spokesperson for the “No on Proposition 66” campaign and served as its Orange County Chair. Considered one of the largest electoral turnarounds ever in California politics, Proposition 66 was defeated by 46.6% to 53.4%. The ballot initiative at one point had approximately 65% voter approval.

In 2008, Spitzer served as statewide Chair of the campaign to pass Marsy’s Law, a ballot initiative that amended the California Constitution to enact the California Victims’ Bill of Rights.

In March 2011, Spitzer announced his candidacy for the 2012 Orange County Board of Supervisors Third District seat.

Todd Spitzer won that seat in June, 2012 with seventy percent of the vote.

Awards and recognition

Spitzer has received numerous awards and recognition. In 2000, the Orange County Republican Party named him Local Elected Official of the Year. In 2004, the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault named him its “Legislator of the Year,” citing his extensive work with Megan’s Law and his dedication to protecting victims of sexual assault. In 2006, the California State Sheriff’s Association named Spitzer “Outstanding Assembly Member” for his service on the Assembly Public Safety Committee. In 2005, Crime Victims United of California named him “Legislator of the Year”.

In 2005, the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney’s Association presented Spitzer with a Special Distinction Award for his efforts to defeat Proposition 66. In addition, the California Narcotics Officers Association named him Legislator of the Year in 2006 for his support of crackdowns on methamphetamine use and production.

Spitzer serves as an Honorary Board Member of the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau (Renamed Crime Victims Action Alliance) and as a Board Member of Crime Survivors, Inc., and the Orange County’s Trauma Intervention Program (TIP). He also served as a member of the Orange County Bar Association Administration of Justice Committee. He is on the Advisory Board for the Orange County Council along with Ca. Assemblyman James Silva, and former State Senator Van Tran Boy Scouts of America. In 2003, he received that organization’s Visionary Award, given annually to a person who exemplifies the attributes of the Scout Oath and Law, and who has demonstrated leadership and philanthropy in the Hispanic and Latino communities.

From 1990 to 2000, Spitzer served as a Level 1 Line Reserve Police Officer in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollenbeck Division in East Los Angeles, where he founded the Driving Under the Influence Task Force. In 1999, Spitzer was named Reserve Officer of the Year for his Division and for the LAPD Central Bureau.