Richard Bloom Explained

Richard Bloom
State Assembly:California
District:50th
Term Start:December 3, 2012
Term End:December 5, 2022
Predecessor:Ricardo Lara
Successor:Rick Zbur
Office2:Mayor of Santa Monica
Term Start2:December 2010
Term End2:December 2012
Predecessor2:Terry O'Day
Successor2:Gleam Davis, Kevin McKeown
Office3:Member of the Santa Monica City Council
Term Start3:1999
Term End3:2012
Birth Date:22 June 1953
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Robbie Black
Children:2
Residence:Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Education:University of California, Berkeley (BA)
Loyola Marymount University (JD)

Richard Hershel Bloom (born June 22, 1953) is an American attorney, politician, and jurist who currently serves as a state judge in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County and formerly served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 50th district, which encompasses West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills, Malibu, Topanga, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park, and Hollywood, from 2012 to 2022.

Bloom was a member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, he served as mayor of Santa Monica and previously on the Santa Monica City Council for 13 years. On January 31, 2022, Bloom was appointed a state judge by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Early life and education

Bloom was born to an Ashkenazi Jewish family and raised in Altadena and West Los Angeles. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from the Loyola Law School.[1]

Career

Santa Monica City Council

First elected in 1999, Bloom served on the Santa Monica City Council for 13 years, serving as mayor three times and mayor pro tempore twice. Bloom also served as Chair of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.

California Assembly

Bloom defeated incumbent Assemblymember Betsy Butler in 2012.

Bloom serves on the following Assembly committees: Transportation, Budget, Arts & Entertainment, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, and Higher Education. He also serves on Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation and is the Chairman of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation.

In 2013, Bloom authored the Bobcat Protection Act, which has since been signed into law, but did not result in protection of the Bobcat due to loopholes. Public pressure played a key role to influence the California Governor to direct his California Fish and Game Commission to ban trapping of Bobcat in California, even though killing the Bobcat in California National Parks and Califorania State Parks has been illegal since 1918.

On March 7, 2014, Bloom introduced legislation to ban live performances and captive breeding of orcas. The legislation, if passed into law, would affect SeaWorld San Diego's "Shamu" performances.[2] [3]

On November 4, 2014, Bloom was re-elected to a second term with nearly 72% of the vote.

In the 2015 legislative session, Bloom introduced legislation to ban plastic microbeads in personal care products. The bill has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.

In the 2016 legislative session, Bloom re-introduced legislation to ban captive orca shows. The bill passed both chambers of the legislature.

Bloom did not run in the 2022 election. On December 5, 2022, Rick Chavez Zbur was sworn in as Bloom's successor.

Electoral history

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014.

2016 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016.

2018 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018.

2020 California State Assembly[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arom. Eitan. January 6, 2017. Jewish state legislators ready to make an impact. Jewish Journal.
  2. News: UPDATE 1-California bill would ban orca shows, captive breeding. Reuters. 8 March 2014.
  3. Web site: San Diego mayor blasts bill to ban orca shows at SeaWorld. . 8 March 2014.
  4. Web site: Statement of Vote . 28 June 2024.