Preceded by Don Edwards Party Republican Party | Name William Baker Political party Republican Succeeded by Ellen Tauscher | |
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Born June 14, 1940 (age 84)
Oakland, California ( 1940-06-14 ) | ||
Education San Jose State University | ||
William Pond Baker (born June 14, 1940, in Oakland, California) is a former United States Congressman from California. He attended San Jose State University, from which he earned a business degree. Baker served as a member of the United States Coast Guard reserve from 1957 to 1965.
After graduating from college, Baker worked as a budget analyst for a large financial corporation. He then took a similar job with the California Department of Finance, which he held for four years. Baker worked as the vice president of a Taxpayers Association until he successfully ran for a seat in the California State Assembly as a Republican in 1980. He served six terms in a district that included portions of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. In 1992, Baker ran for Congress and served two terms in the House before losing reelection in 1996 to Ellen Tauscher. Baker was a fiscal and social conservative.
After leaving Congress, Baker returned to the field of finance, and was a partner in the Baker, Brose & Mitsutome investment management firm.