Brian Setencich
Brian Setencich (born 1962) served in the California Assembly for one term from 1994 to 1996 and as Speaker of that body from September 14, 1995 to January 4, 1996. Setencich was the first freshman legislator to serve as Speaker of the Assembly. He was previously a city councilman in Fresno and played professional basketball in Europe. [1].
A populist, Setencich was elected in California Assembly District 30, though the district is overwhelmingly Democratic. He was outspent by his opponent, Bryn Batrich, the field director for Jim Costa (D-Fresno), by approximately three-to-one in the 1994 election.
Rise to power
After months of partisan fighting over the election of a Speaker, Setencich and another Republican, Doris Allen (R-Cypress), voted with the Democrats so the legislature could focus on pending legislation rather than political infighting. Republicans contended that Brown had Allen elected Speaker, but in name only, since they alleged Brown continued to lead the Assembly as head of the Democratic caucus. Outraged Republicans had Allen recalled, and shortly before her removal from office, she resigned. Setencich served as Speaker pro tempore under Allen. When Allen was recalled, Setencich was subsequently elected Speaker. As Speaker of the Assembly, Setencich sought to proportionately reallocate the Assembly budget and Committee leadership structure according to partisan representation. (For example, if Republicans had 52 percent of the Assembly seats, they would receive 52 percent of the budget and Committee chairperson appointments) rather than the spoils system currently in place.
Fall from power
In 1995, Willie Brown was elected Mayor of San Francisco. In early January 1996, Brown resigned to be sworn in as mayor. Brown's departure from the Assembly allowed the Republicans to take control of the Assembly. Conservative Orange County legislator Curt Pringle was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Setencich and Pringle were political adversaries. Setencich, who represented a district with a large Latino constituency, was critical of Pringle's alleged involvement in the hiring of "poll guards" to intimidate Latinos from voting several years earlier. In the 1996 primary election, Setencich was defeated for renomination by Robert Prenter who waged a last minute campaign against him. Prenter's campaign was funded by the far-right California Business PAC.
After working for the city of San Francisco's 911 Emergency Communications Project (being hired by Willie Brown); Setencich accepted a position in the private sector.
| Preceded by Doris Allen |
Speaker of the California State Assembly September 14 1995–January 4 1996 |
Succeeded by Curt Pringle |
| Preceded by Jim Costa |
California State
Assemblyman, 30th District 1994 – 1996 |
Succeeded by Robert Prenter |
| Speakers of the California State Assembly |
|---|
| White • Bigler • Hammond • Wall • Fairfax • Stow • Farley •
Beatty • Whiteside • Stratton •
Moore • Burnell • Barstow •
Machin • Sears • Yule •
Ryland • Rogers • Shannon • Estee • Carpenter • Berry • Cowdery •
Parks • LaRue • Parks •
Jordan • Howe • Coombs •
Gould • Lynch • Coombs •
Anderson • Pendleton • Fisk • Prescott • Beardslee •
Stanton • Hewitt • Young •
Wright • Merriam • Levey • Little • Craig • Jones • Peek • Garland •
Lyon • Collins • Silliman • Lincoln • R. Brown • Unruh • Monagan • Moretti • McCarthy • W. Brown • Allen • Setencich • Pringle • |
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