Curt Hagman: Republican Leader and/or Fourth District Supervisor?

Assemblyman Curt Hagman

Assemblyman Curt Hagman, a Republican representing the 60th Assembly  District, was elected to his first term in 2008.  The district covers a total of 13 cities within San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange counties.

As a freshman assemblyman, Hagman has enjoyed unusual success, which he credits to his communication skills and leadership abilities.  The ability to get along with Republicans and Democrats alike has helped him gain respect as evidenced by his selection as Assistant Republican Leader and Republican Floor Leader so early on in his career.  He also sits on ten committees, including the Rules Committee and Judiciary Committee, as well as serving as Vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee.

As Republican Floor Leader, Hagman can directly impact the passage—or non-passage—of bills.  Through his leadership on the last day of the most recent session, he was able to keep 35 bills from being voted on, some of which had a chance to pass and be signed by the Governor despite the fact they may have further hurt our economy or had other unintended consequences.

Hagman was elected to the Assembly already having a lengthy public service résumé.  He served as a board member on his children’s PTA.  He is past president of the Kiwanis Club of Chino Hills and on the Board of Directors for the Chino Valley YMCA.  Curt is also proud that he earned the Eagle Scout Award from Boy Scouts and is the only Eagle Scout currently serving in the Legislature.

In 2004 Hagman decided to run for the Chino Hills City Council where he served for four years, the last year as Mayor.  During that time he participated on multiple committees that exposed him to all facets of local government, which prepared him to represent his district at the state level.

Among his proudest accomplishments is his appointment by then-San Bernardino County Fourth District Supervisor Fred Aguiar to the Workforce Investment Board, the board that oversees federal Workforce Investment Act funding to prepare students about to enter the workforce and retrain displaced workers. He eventually became chairman, and under his leadership, benchmarks and accountability were introduced to assure job training monies were being spent wisely.

Curt owns Apex Bail Bonds with three offices in Southern California.  He is quick to note that as a successful businessman, he is one of only 27 in the California Legislature to ever sign the front side of a payroll check.

As an Assemblyman, Curt is just finishing up his first term.  Election watchers expect he will sail to victory over Democratic nominee Gregg Fritchle this November.  He has already been asked to be Assembly Republican Leader for the new term but will wait for it to open to decide.

However, two years from now Curt’s political future becomes less sure due to redistricting. There could be as many as three incumbents vying for the same seat.

Hagman doesn’t seem concerned.  For one, it is conceivable a state Senate seat may open up through redistricting and he is not ruling out a possible run for Congress.  But the position that seems most appealing to him is the Fourth Supervisorial District in San Bernardino County.

Curt and his wife, Grace, will have two teenagers by that time and he would like to be close to home.  Grace is currently a field representative for Fourth District Supervisor and Chairman of the Board Gary Ovitt.  As a side note, Ovitt’s wife, Sue, is a field representative for Hagman.  Hagman notes that Sue and most of his staff are paid very little.  A check of Assembly records shows that to be true.

So don’t expect an Ovitt/Hagman battle for the same office any time in the near future.  Curt is prepared to wait for Ovitt to make the decision to leave before he runs for the seat.  Gary and Curt are fairly close political allies.

The more likely contest Hagman will have to face if he chooses to run for the Fourth District is  having Democratic Senator Gloria Negrete McLoud as his opponent.  This would pit Republican Hagman against Democrat Negrete McLoud in a non-partisan race.  The Fourth District has more registered Democrats than Republicans but leans conservative.  The makeup could change with redistricting.

Whatever the future holds for Assemblyman Hagman in terms of elected office, it is clear he is a dedicated public servant interested in bettering his community.