Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 72; Democratic Party

Biography for John MacMurray

A third-generation Democrat, John is making his first run for public office with his campaign for the open seat in the 72nd Assembly District.

Born and raised in Southern California, he attended Earl Warren High School in Downey, then graduated from Fullerton Community College (then known as Fullerton Junior College), and Cal State Fullerton. He is completing his Masters' Degree in Education from the University of Missouri.

John and his wife Ida, both DNOC members, have lived in La Habra since they were married in 1976. They have three sons, Ian, Sean, and Ryan. The family has been active for many years in youth sports, Scouts, and church activities. John is a member of Cornerstone Masonic Lodge in La Habra, Santa Ana Scottish Rite, and El Bekal Shrine Temple.

John made a career change in 1990, leaving the high tech world to teach public school. He has been with the Fullerton School District since 1993. After spending his first year teaching Kindergarten at Valencia Park School, he moved to Ladera Vista Junior High, where he teaches 7th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies.

At Ladera Vista he revived the Science Olympiad program and coached the teams from 1994 to 2001. He has also been active in recruiting speakers for the school's Lunchtime Career Speakers program and helped organize a student Peer Tutoring program. He also currently sponsors a chess club and a science fiction club that meet weekly during lunchtime.

John's current campaign for the 72nd Assembly seat is the first elective office he has run for, but with the enthusiastic and capable support of his wife and campaign manager, he feels that the Democrats have an excellent chance to win the seat. As he noted in his candidate statement, "The heart and cornerstone of our campaign is, `Let's Keep Jobs in the 72nd'. As your candidate, I feel strongly that community-based businesses represent the soul and culture of a community; an asset both for the jobs they provide, and the revenues they bring in.