Steve Vaus
Background information
Birth nameSteven Timothy Vaus
Also known asBuck Howdy
Born (1962-04-07) April 7, 1962 (age 61)[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OriginSan Diego, California, U.S.
GenresChildren's music • Country music
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1992–present
LabelsRCA Nashville, MCA Nashville
Mayor of Poway, California
Assumed office
November 2014
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
EducationEisenhower College

Steve Vaus (also known as Buck Howdy; born April 7, 1962)[2] is an American recording artist and politician who was elected mayor of Poway, California in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.[3] In 2020, he ran for a position on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, losing narrowly to Joel Anderson.[4]

Early life and education

Vaus was born in Los Angeles. As a child, he lived on a cattle ranch in Grants Pass, Oregon and in Westchester County, New York.[5] After graduating from Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls, New York, Vaus relocated to San Diego to be closer to his parents.[6]

Career

Music

Vaus primarily records country music and country music for children. He is also known for his Christmas recordings including The Stars Come Out for Christmas series. Vaus established "Carols by Candlelight" in 1990, a charity fundraiser for various charities serving children including Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego which has become a 34-year San Diego tradition.[7] In 1992, Vaus's song "We Must Take America Back" reached #68 on Hot Country Songs.[8]

Vaus has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 2010.[2][9]

Politics

Steve Vaus was elected in 2012 to a four-year term on the Poway City Council. On November 4, 2014, he was elected mayor of Poway.[10] He has been praised for his response to the Poway synagogue shooting in 2019, and he told the world that "we will put our arms around one another and walk through this dark day together".[11]

Vaus served as Chair of the San Diego Association of Governments from 2018 to 2020.

In May 2019, Vaus announced his candidacy for a seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.[12][13] In the March 3, 2020 primary, he advanced to the general election. He ran against another Republican, state senator Joel Anderson.[14] He lists his priorities as protecting the county from wildfire and crime, protecting open space, and encouraging the development of more housing.[15] His campaign was endorsed by the editorial board of The San Diego Union-Tribune.[16]

He lost this election by 282 votes, or 0.09% of the 289,924 votes counted in the election.[4] In 2022 he was elected to a third four-year term as mayor of Poway.

Discography

Albums

Year Album
1992 Never Had a Chance Steve Vaus
1994 Voice of America Steve Vaus
2009 Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories & Songs as Buck Howdy
2010 American Dreams as Buck Howdy
2012 The Best of Buck Howdy as Buck Howdy

Singles

Year Single Peak positions
US Country
1992 "We Must Take America Back" 68

Music videos

Year Video
1992 "We Must Take America Back"

References

  1. ^ "Mayor Steve Vaus explains coronavirus relief proposals on Poway City Council agenda -". 7 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Varga, George (2007-12-07). "Grammys may be living dangerously this year". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Signonsandiego.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  3. ^ "Buck Howdy joins the 'big guns' at the Grammys". SignOnSanDiego.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  4. ^ a b Clark, Charles (9 December 2020). "Joel Anderson wins county supervisor seat". San Diego Union Tribune.
  5. ^ "Looking for 'Our Town' : Lifestyles: When a San Diego man 'advertises' for a safer, friendlier, less hectic place to live, small-town America responds". Los Angeles Times. 1992-04-23. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  6. ^ "Vaus points to Poway record in Dist. 2 race - Steve Vaus is banking that his record leading the city of Poway will convince voters on Nov. 3 that he is best to represent District 2 on the County Board of Supervisors. The District 2 race is one of..." www.sdnews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  7. ^ "About Carols by Candlelight | CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Carols by Candlelight". Carolsbycandlelight.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 439. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  9. ^ "Grammy Winner Pens TSA Pat-Down Protest Song". NBC San Diego. 2011-05-09. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  10. ^ John, Alison St (2014-11-05). "Republicans Win North County Mayoral Races". Kpbs.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  11. ^ "Sometimes, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus says, a mayor must also be a minister". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-05-05. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  12. ^ "Sometimes, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus says, a mayor must also be a minister". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-05-05. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  13. ^ "Mayor Steve Vaus for San Diego County Supervisor". Mayor Steve Vaus for San Diego County Supervisor. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  14. ^ "JOEL ANDERSON AND STEVE VAUS ADVANCE TO NOVEMBER RUN OFF TO FILL DIANNE JACOB'S SEAT ON SUPERVISORS IN DISTRICT 2". East County Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  15. ^ "Mayor Steve Vaus for San Diego County Supervisor". Mayor Steve Vaus for San Diego County Supervisor. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  16. ^ "Endorsement: Steve Vaus for San Diego County supervisor, District 2". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-07-31.

External links


Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children
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