Jim Frazier, a local small-business owner, was elected to the California State Assembly in November, 2012 to represent the 11th Assembly District. The 11th District encompasses portions of Solano, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties and includes the following cities, towns and areas: Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.
Frazier became involved in public service after a family tragedy. On December 16, 2000, his two daughters were in a head-on auto collision caused by black ice on their way to Lake Tahoe. The accident was fatal for his oldest daughter, and left his younger daughter in critical condition. Grief-stricken, Frazier and his wife Janet worked to help prevent other families from undergoing the same painful experience. In their research, they learned that there had been 143 accidents and numerous fatalities on the same two-mile stretch where his daughters’ accident had occurred. Jim and Janet succeeded in convincing Caltrans to widen the median and install a new pavement that would prevent black ice from forming on that part of the highway. This unfortunate tragedy sparked Frazier’s interest in highway safety and transportation infrastructure improvements, which led to his further involvement in public service.
In 2008, Frazier was elected to the Oakley City Council after serving on the city’s Planning Commission and as a Commissioner on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s Citizen Advisory Committee. He later served as the Mayor of Oakley from 2011-2012. As a local government official, Frazier delivered $83,000,000 for Highway 4 Bypass improvements, creating 1,400 new jobs; $50,000,000 to fund highway 160 improvements, creating 700 new jobs; and $33,000,000 to fund the Sand Creek Interchange. Frazier not only made his mark in transportation, he also fought for the successful opening of a first-of-its kind medical clinic in Oakley and helped build the area’s first “all-abilities” playground for children with special needs. Frazier also served as Chair of TRANSPLAN, was Chair of the State Route 4 Bypass Authority, and a member of the E-BART Advisory Committee. He received the Oakley Citizen of the Year Award, the Threads of Hope Award, and the Bay Area Jefferson Award for Public Service.
Upon joining the Legislature in 2012, Frazier was appointed as Chair of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee by Speaker John A. Pérez. He was also appointed as a member on the Assembly’s Insurance Committee, Transportation Committee, Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, and the Select Committee on Protecting California’s Food Safety Programs. Frazier also serves as an Advisory Member of the State Public Works Board.
Since being elected, Frazier has made it his mission to be accessible to all of his constituents. To accomplish that, he has held numerous community coffees and mobile district offices. Frazier also continues to be a strong advocate for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. As a member of the Delta Protection Commission, his continuous efforts are focused on the protection of fish and wildlife, safeguarding farmers and their flourishing agricultural industry, the promotion of water conservation and improved water quality, the responsible management of land use and development, and the preservation of the environmental and economic viability of the Delta.
Bills signed by Governor during Jim Frazier’s first term in office.
AB 287: This bill allows the names of veterans who were not included on the original California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park to be added, including veterans who have died from injuries or illness directly related to their service in the war.
AB 417: This bill promotes using bikes as an alternative means of transportation by simplifying the approval process for bicycle transportation plans.
AB 513: This bill helps California recycle used tires safely and efficiently by combining them with asphalt binder to create a road paving material. This road paving material has been proven to reduce road noise, to be strong and durable, save money, and provide an efficient way to recycle tires.
AB 1070: This bill makes technical changes to ensure that project investments in transportation bonds comply with state, federal, and environmental requirements as projects are planned and built.
AB 1336: This bill protects employees from employer abuses, and protects the public by ensuring that construction is being done by workers with appropriate training and that they are being properly compensated for their work.
AB 935: Commencing Veterans Day of 2015, California veterans may apply for a driver’s license or identification card that clearly identifies them as a veteran. Allowing veterans to apply for a “Veteran” designation will allow individuals to access the services and benefits for which they are entitled, creates a simplified veteran identification process for medical and law enforcement officials and potentially brings in up to $750 million annually of federal veteran benefits into the state’s economy.
AB 1589: Eliminates the requirement that military and overseas voters renew their request to receive an email ballot every two years. Under current law, military and overseas voters can elect to receive their ballots via mail, fax or email. This bill will make the request for an emailed ballot on par with the others, so that a military or overseas voter who elected to receive the email ballot aren’t unintentionally disenfranchised by the request expiring.
AB 1709: Creates a five-year pilot program that extends the age limits for junior hunting licenses from 16 to 18. Current law requires that individuals be less than 16 years of age to be eligible for a Junior Hunting License. Extending the eligibility for Junior Hunting Licenses to the age of 18 will help incentivize families to continue hunting and investing in wildlife conservation programs by keeping prices reasonable.
AB 1857: Allows Caltrans to purchase heavy mobile fleet vehicles and equipment using a best value method of procurement. Under current law, Caltrans must utilize a lowest bid method for the purchase, which may not actually provide the lowest cost over life of the product. This bill will give Caltrans the ability to procure equipment with an eye towards the long-term savings that comes from a best value method.
AB 2099: Provides enhanced institutional standards and oversight to protect veterans who attend college in California. Additionally, this bill will make the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE) a safeguard for student veterans who have been targeted by for-profit colleges by approving only qualified institutions that meet minimum standards. AB 2099 will protect the taxpayer investment in student veterans and improve educational outcomes for veterans as they strive to make the transition from military to civilian life.
AB 2105: Updates the price of a non-resident wild sheep tag consistent with other states by increasing it from $500 to $1,500. The cost of this tag has not been updated since 1986, therefore, the price has not been allowed to increase with inflation for almost 30 years. This bill also allows non-profit hunting organizations who auction some of these tags at events on behalf of the state to retain 5% of the sales tag price as a reasonable vendor fee to cover administrative costs.
AB 2174: Provides legislative authorization to dispose of various state properties that have been declared surplus by the Department of General Services, the Employment Development Department, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol.
AB 2397: Allows criminal defendants to make court appearances by video in non-critical portions of a trial. By implementing increased use of video conferencing, courts can expedite court calendars while allowing county sheriffs to maintain safe courtrooms. This bill will also save counties transportation costs incurred by moving inmates back and forth from jails for appearances that often only take a few minutes.
AB 2763: Technical and conforming bill introduced as a follow up to the Governor’s Reorganization Proposal, known as GRP2. GRP2 is meant to streamline state government and increase state agency efficiency and effectiveness.
AB 2727: Increases the current deposit requirement from $150 to $275 for a party that subpoenas an employee of a local agency. The deposit is used to reimburse a city for that employee’s salary and travel expenses. This bill makes the deposit requirement consistent with the amount required to subpoena peace officers, firefighters, state employees, and specific county employees.
AB 1439 (Jointly authored by Assemblymembers Salas, Bonta & Frazier): Prohibits any person, when conducting a contest or sweepstakes, from using an electronic video monitor to simulate gambling or play gambling-themed games that offers the opportunity to win sweepstakes cash, cash equivalent prizes, or other prizes of value. This will help to ensure that law is updated to prohibit these activities and provide authorities with necessary enforcement tools to regain local control of the public safety issues that arise because of illegal Internet gambling sweepstakes.
In the coming years, Frazier’s priorities will include the ongoing protection of the Delta, repairing the infrastructure of roads and highways, limiting hikes in college tuition, maintaining funds for local public safety, restoring funding towards special needs programs and encouraging job creation.
Assemblymember Frazier resides in Oakley with his wife of 35 years, Janet Frazier, and his beloved black Labrador, Rocky.
- 707.206.6211
- christina@littlewingconnections.com