Full Biography for Mike Thompson

SENATOR MIKE THOMPSON

In just two short terms, Mike Thompson has earned the reputation as one of the hardest working officials in public service. His work ethic and dedication to serious policy have quickly moved him into leadership positions that have helped him deliver for both his district and state. In 1995 he became the first North Coast-North Bay Californian in 23 years to Chair the powerful Senate Budget Committee with jurisdiction over all state spending. He also Chairs the Senate's Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Rural Caucus, Select Committee on California's Wine Industry, Task Force on Welfare Reform, Special Committee on Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health, and the Senate's Subcommittees on Rural Health and River Protection and Restoration.

Mike Thompson is the Senate's only Vietnam veteran. He served with the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He was also an instructor with the Army's Airborne School.

Mike was born and raised in St. Helena. He is a former vineyard owner and maintenance supervisor for the Beringer Winery. Mike has taught Public Administration and State Government at San Francisco State University and California State University, Chico.

Mike is married to Janet Thompson, a registered nurse in St. Helena. They have two sons.

Senator Thompson's honors include:

• Freshman Legislator of the Year -- CA School Boards Association
• Legislator of the Year -- CA Abortion Rights Action League
• Legislator of the Year -- CA Association of Persons With Handicaps
• Distinguished Service Award -- CA State Association of Counties
• Distinguished Service Award -- CA Association of Hospitals
• Legislator of the Year -- Police Officers Research Association of CA
• 1994 Legislative Leadership Award -- CA Association of Health Services at Home
• 1994 Legislator of the Year -- Disabled in State Service
• 1995 Distinguished Service Award -- AIDS Project Los Angeles
• 1995 Senator of the Year -- CA Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
• 1996 Outstanding Senator of the Year -- Planned Parenthood Affiliated of CA
• 1996 Outstanding Senator of the Year -- CA School Boards Association
• 1996 Outstanding Senator of the Year -- CA Professional Firefighters
• 1997 Hi-Tech Senator of the Year -- CA Electronics Association
• 1997 Harvey Sorenson Service Award -- Ducks Unlimited
• 1997 Annual Injury Prevention Award -- American Academy of Pediatrics
• 1997 Legislator of the Year -- Planning and Conservation League
• 1998 Legislator of the Year -- Alumni Association of the University of California
• 1998 Outstanding Achievement Award -- Rice Producers of California
• 1998 Legislator of the Year -- Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association

Mike Thompson's legislative accomplishments include:

Authored child health care laws that ensure all health insurance policies sold in our state include preventive coverage.

Authored the Violent Crime Information, Investigation, and Technology Act of 1994 that provides local law enforcement officers with state-of-the-art technologies to assist in the identification, tracking and apprehension of habitual sexual offenders and repeat violent felons.

Authored the nation's toughest set of railroad safety laws (SB 48) which have improved rural California's ability to prevent and respond to toxic spills such as the Dunsmuir tragedy.

Authored landmark welfare reform laws that focus on providing recipients with day care, training, education and other tools needed to break dependency cycles.

Authored the Patient Protection Act of 1991 that developed into a national model to protect both patients and health care workers from the transmission of HIV and hepatitis.

Led effort to successfully defeat Administrative plans to raise fees at the State's Veteran's Home in Yountville.

Led effort to successfully defeat a 1991 legislative effort (AB 2090-Katz) to transfer wholesale shipments of North State water to Southern California's urban centers.

Led effort to successfully defeat a 1992 Regional Government bill (SB 797-Morgan) that would have left smaller counties like Napa, Solano and Sonoma in subordinate positions to urban Bay Area cities.

Authored legislation to save state taxpayers $3 million annually by reducing bloated salaries of political appointees to state boards and commissions.

Authored legislation (SB 1445) to close a legal loophole that was allowing frivolous inmate lawsuits in state prisons to cost taxpayers upwards of $6 million annually.

Authored legislation (SB 856) that cracks down on parole violators by enacting stricter time limits for reporting, enforcement, and community notification.

Authored legislation (SB 161) that protects open space from irresponsible development in agriculturally-rich counties.

Authored legislation (SB 121) that overturned a controversial Supreme Court ruling by establishing that voluntary intoxication by either alcohol or drugs is not an excuse for murder.

Authored the Rural Gang Protection Act that established the state's first major effort toward combating street gangs in rural communities by providing more funding to small counties for prevention and intervention as well as giving rural counties their first representation on the state advisory committee that allocates statewide funding.