Jim Beall, Jr
Jim Beall knows Assembly District 24 like the back of his hand. His life – both public and personal – has been singularly tied to the region.
Born and raised in San Jose, educated at Bellarmine College Preparatory and San Jose State University, Beall began his career in politics at the age of 28 when he was elected to the San Jose City Council. He is the youngest person ever to serve on the City Council.
After 14 years on the council, he was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors where he served three terms. In 2006, he won the Assembly District 24 race.
Since arriving at the State Capitol, he has focused on health care; creating more jobs in this tough economy; upgrading our transportation – from mass transit to roads; improving the foster care system; getting high speed rail moving; nurturing green technology; and seeing that people with disabilities are treated fairly.
He believes government should offer a “hand up not a handout’’ to people who need it. It’s a philosophy that has guided him in strengthening county and state human service programs throughout his career.
Assemblymember also believes that prevention – attacking the root causes before it grows -- is the best way to solve problems. Consequently, he has fought to undercut alcoholism’s and drug addiction’s toll on California, factors that have contributed to prison overcrowding.
Assemblyman Beall’s interests reflect his assignments. He is chairman of the Assembly Human Services Committee. He serves as the chairman of the Select Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Select Committee on Foster Care.
He is also a member of the Committee on Revenue and Taxation; the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy; and the Budget Subcommittee #1 – Health and Human Services.
When he isn’t in Sacramento, Assemblymember Beall works out of his district office in downtown San Jose, conferring with constituents or attending speaking engagements.
And when he manages to have a few spare moments to himself, he likes to read (generally non-fiction related to policy issues), hike, and hunt for stones that fuel has hobby, lapidary. He and his wife, Pat, have been married for more than 25 years, and live in San Jose’s Cambrian district. Assemblymember Beall has two stepsons.