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Tuesday March 3, 2020 — Primary Election
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California State SenateCandidate for District 3

Photo of Bill Dodd

Bill Dodd

State Senator
212,004 votes (98.6%)Winning
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My Top 3 Priorities

  • Educating our children and grandchildren is priority number one. That includes universal preschool, investing in K-12 education, and fighting for college affordability.
  • Addressing the critical housing and homelessness issues facing the state of California.
  • Building on California's leadership to expand healthcare, fight climate change, and protect immigrants, seniors and consumers.

Experience

Experience

Profession:Senator
Senator, District 3, California State Senate — Elected position (2016–current)
Assemblymember, District 4, California State Assembly — Elected position (2014–2016)
Napa County Supervisor, County of Napa — Elected position (2001–2014)

Education

California State University, Chico Bachelor's Degree, Business

Biography

Elected in 2016 to represent California’s 3rd Senate District, Sen. Bill Dodd is a fifth-generation Californian and lifelong resident of the district, where he grew up on a small family farm in Napa County. The district includes all of Napa and Solano counties and portions of Contra Costa, Sacramento, Sonoma and Yolo counties. Sen. Dodd serves as the chair of the Governmental Organization Committee and is a member of the Transportation Committee, the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Insurance Committee. He is co-chair of the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry and the Legislative Delta Caucus. 

His work in the Senate has spanned many topics – from improving public education to protecting seniors and the environment. He is one of the Legislature's most prolific legislators, authoring 67 law in the last 5 years. As a senator representing wildfire-torn Napa and Sonoma counties, he co-chaired the 2018 conference committee on wildfire safety and prevention and authored numerous bills that were signed into law to protect Californians from future infernos and accompanying utility rate hikes.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Sen. Dodd represented the 4th Assembly District. In the Assembly, he worked to help small businesses, protect the environment, and support seniors and working families. He advanced a balanced, sustainable budget that invests in our education system from preschool through higher education. He helped establish the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, promote career technical education, and create the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument – preserving over 330,000 acres of the California Coast Ranges in Napa, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Colusa, Glenn and Mendocino counties.

Before the Assembly, Sen. Dodd served on the Napa County Board of Supervisors for 14 years. His accomplishments include the completion of Napa’s flood control project, which protects thousands of properties from flooding, restored 900 acres of environmental wetlands and produced $1 billion of investment in local businesses.

Prior to his time in elected office, Sen. Dodd was a successful small business owner. He owned and operated one of the largest full-service Culligan Water operations in California, and served as president of the water quality industry’s state and national trade associations. Sen. Dodd is a graduate of California State University, Chico.

Sen. Dodd and his wife Mary live in Napa and have five grown children and nine grandchildren. The Napa Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized the Dodds' philanthropic efforts by awarding Sen. Dodd its 2014 “Citizen of the Year” for raising over $3 million for local charities.

Questions & Answers

Questions from League of Women Voters of California (4)

Describe what proposal(s) you would support to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing for all income groups in California?
Answer from Bill Dodd:

The housing shortage is a critical problem. In the Legislature, I coauthored a successful $3 billion housing bond and a bill creating a continuous funding stream of an additional quarter of a billion dollars per year. I have also supported dozens of new laws to support housing development. However, there is still much to do. I am supportive of measures to eliminate unreasonable delays, discretionary approvals and fees, while providing incentives (such as density bonuses) to projects that include significant amounts of affordable housing. 

What programs or legislation would you support to meet the water needs of all Californians?
Answer from Bill Dodd:

I have been a leader in statewide water policy and in issues dealing with protecting the Delta. I authored the author of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, a law to better manage our precious water resources for environmental and human needs. I have authored several other measures to improve groundwater management and stream monitoring. I am proud to have successfully opposed the ill-advised "twin tunnels" proposal in the Delta.

I will continue working to adopt policies that ensure California will be a vibrant, sustainable state – now, and for future generations.

To reach a goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, as set forth in a 2018 executive order what, if any, proposals, plans or legislation would you support?  Please be specific.
Answer from Bill Dodd:

I proudly coauthored SB 100, to achieve 100% carbon-neutral energy by 2045. That is a critical step forward, but we also need to tackle auto emissions, which are the largest source of GHG emissions in California. I will continue supporting legislation to expand electric vehicle and fuel cell deployment.

According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, we spend over $81,000 per individual who is incarcerated.  Other than incarceration, what ways can the State address safety and justice?
Answer from Bill Dodd:

I have supported numerous reforms to support diversion of non-serious, non-violent offenders from state prisons. We need to focus on the underlying causes, such as drug addiction and mental health. At the same time, parolees should be provided a better continuum of care once their released to help prevent recidivism.

Lastly, I truly believe that investing in our education system on the front-end will help prevent young people from ending up in the criminal justice system in the first place. Supporting children, especially in disadvantaged communities is key.

Who gave money to this candidate?

Contributions

Total money raised: $1,356,177

Top contributors that gave money to support the candidate, by organization:

1
State Building & Construction Trades Council of California
$14,300
2
California Teachers Association
$13,950
3
California Faculty Association
$11,150
4
AKT Development and employees
$9,937
5
Operating Engineers Local 3
$9,700

More information about contributions

By State:

California 83.17%
Texas 2.43%
District of Columbia 2.00%
Illinois 1.69%
Other 10.71%
83.17%10.71%

By Size:

Large contributions (99.26%)
Small contributions (0.74%)
99.26%

By Type:

From organizations (75.38%)
From individuals (24.62%)
75.38%24.62%
Source: MapLight analysis of data from the California Secretary of State.

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