Scott Wilk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minority Leader of the California Senate | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – December 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Shannon Grove |
| Succeeded by | Brian Jones |
| Member of the California Senate from the 21st district | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Sharon Runner |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 38th district | |
| In office December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Cameron Smyth |
| Succeeded by | Dante Acosta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Scott Thomas Wilk Sr. March 16, 1959 Lancaster, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Vanessa Safoyan (1985–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | California State University, Bakersfield (BA) |
Scott Thomas Wilk Sr. (born March 16, 1959) is an American politician who served as the California State Senate minority leader from January 20, 2021 until December 5, 2022.[1] He is a Republican representing the 21st district, encompassing Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served two terms in the California State Assembly. He was also a College of the Canyons Trustee.
Wilk earned his B.A. in political science from California State University, Bakersfield. He has served on the board of directors of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee. He is a member of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Granada Hills Rotary Club.
Wilk was appointed to the Santa Clarita College District Board of Trustees on August 23, 2006. He was re-elected in November 2007 and November 2011. He also worked as a small business owner, ran a communications firm, and was a former legislative staffer.[2]
Wilk was elected to represent the 38th Assembly District on November 5, 2012. He received 56.9% of the vote. Wilk was re-elected in 2014, receiving 66.3% of the vote. While in the Assembly, Wilk served on the following committees: Budget Committee (Sub 4 - State Administration), the Governmental Organization Committee, and the Joint Committee on Arts.
While in the Assembly, Wilk was the principal co-author of the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act[citation needed]. He also co-authored a $420 million tax incentive that helped land a $60 billion aerospace contract expected to create 6,500 new jobs in the High Desert[citation needed]. In 2014, Scott was selected by the non-partisan, non-profit State Legislative Leaders Foundation to attend the Emerging Leaders Program held at the University of Virginia[citation needed].
In California State Senate, Wilk is well known for working across the aisle to find meaningful solutions to state's pressing problems. He is a Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and is an Appointee to the Little Hoover Commission. He is also the Vice-Chair of the Committees on Governmental Organization, Labor, Public Employment & Retirement and Judiciary. He also serves on the Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee, as well as the Committees on Education and Energy, Utilities & Communications. Wilk is also a member of the Legislative Joint Audit Committee, Joint Committee on Rules and the Joint Committee on Arts and Entertainment. In addition, he is a member of the Select Committee on California, Armenia & Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art & Cultural Exchange, the California Wine Industry Select Committee and the Select Committee on Manufactured Homes Communities. [3] On January 20, 2021, Wilk was elected as the Senate Republican Leader.[4]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Scott Wilk (incumbent) | 32,550 | 66.9 | |
| Democratic | Jorge Salomon Fuentes | 16,082 | 33.1 | |
| Total votes | 48,632 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Scott Wilk (incumbent) | 63,249 | 66.3 | |
| Democratic | Jorge Salomon Fuentes | 32,095 | 33.7 | |
| Total votes | 95,344 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Scott Wilk | 20,230 | 32.1 | |
| Democratic | Edward Headington | 19,608 | 31.1 | |
| Republican | Patricia McKeon | 14,025 | 22.2 | |
| Republican | Paul B. Strickland | 9,182 | 14.6 | |
| Total votes | 63,045 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Scott Wilk | 100,069 | 56.9 | |
| Democratic | Edward Headington | 75,864 | 43.1 | |
| Total votes | 175,933 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Unlike many Republicans, Wilk has garnered endorsements from organized labor.[5] He has received an endorsement from AFSCME Local 3299 (American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees) and from other organizations such as the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR), California Professional Firefighters, California ProLife Council, Gun Owners of California, National Rifle Association, PawPAC - California's Political Action Committee for Animals, and Peace Officers Research Association of California.[6]
In 2020, Wilk was endorsed by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, a news media organization owned by Richard Budman and his wife, Chris.[7] In 2021, ''The Signal listed Wilk at Number 1 on its list of Santa Clarita Valley's most influential people.
Wilk and his wife, Vanessa, reside in Santa Clarita with their two dogs.[8] They have two adult children, Scott, Jr. and Alison.[8]
Wilk's wife, Vanessa, is a district director for California State Assembly member Tom Lackey. She is also the chair of the City of Santa Clarita's Arts Commission[9] and a member of the board of directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging.[10]
