Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 72

BRUCE MATTHIAS

CAMPAIGN BIO

Bruce has been involved with the California political process from an early age. He walked precincts for Senator Barry Goldwater in his Presidential bid in 1964, and he directed voter registration efforts in central Orange County for the Committee to Reelect the President in 1972. Since then Bruce has worked for former Congressman Bill Dannemeyer, serving as Bill's legislative assistant in Washington, D.C. before returning to the district to assist there. Then Bruce became Chief of Staff to Assemblyman John Lewis during his first three years in office. Bruce has been associated with numberous candidates and races since then and has been a member of the Lincoln Club of Orange County since 1991.

Bruce was with Santa Anita Park, the historic thoroughbred race track, for ten years as head of their simulcasting department. From 1989 until August of 1999 he directed the growth of annual handle from out of state tracks on California racing from $15 million to over $550 million. Prior to joining Santa Anita, Bruce worked in public affairs for Getty Oil and was part of the start-up team at Hyundai Motor America heading their public affairs and public relations efforts.

Bruce holds the degree of Master of Public Administration from California State University at Fullerton as well as a BA from Westmont College in Santa Barbara. He has a certificate in National Security Management from the War College at Fort Leslie J. McNair. He was a member of the Anaheim Citizens Capital Improvements Committee as well as a member of the Orange County Citizens Direction Finding Commission. He has been a Trustee of Concordia University, Irvine since 1992. Bruce is an active member of Hephatha Lutheran Church of Anaheim Hills where he has served as an elder, a member of the school board, and presently teaches Sunday school.

Bruce has been married to Dr. Sonja Matthias for eighteen years, they live in Anaheim Hills. They have two children, Andrew who is thirteen, and Lauren who is twelve. When he finds spare time, Bruce works on his golf game which needs improvement.