Phil Angelides: Biography

Phil Angelides was born in Sacramento, California to a family of proud Greek-American heritage. Phil still lives in his hometown today with his wife, Julie, and his youngest daughter, Arianna. They have two other daughters: Megan, who served in the Peace Corps in the African nation of Senegal and now serves as the campus organizer for her dad’s campaign, and Christina, a senior in college.

Phil first became interested in politics when, as a 19-year-old student at Harvard, he saw a "Dump Nixon" poster on a campus bulletin board. By the summer of 1972, Phil was headed to the Democratic National Convention in Miami, beginning his lifelong commitment to standing up for Democratic values.

From 1975 to 1983, Phil worked in California state government, developing a reputation as a leader in the fields of affordable housing and sustainable development. In 1984, Phil moved into the private sector and in 1986 formed his own successful business that planned and built the new community of Laguna West, which remains a model of a livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable community.

In 1991, Phil became the Chair of the California Democratic Party, leading an aggressive grassroots campaign that registered over 1 million new Democrats and helped elect two women senators – Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein - and President Bill Clinton. Phil remained a leader with the Democratic Party throughout the 1990s and most recently served as California Co-Chair for the Kerry-Edwards 2004 campaign.

Phil was elected California's State Treasurer in 1998 and has honored the taxpayers’ trust by earning solid financial returns even in the toughest economic times. While in office Phil has made investments in California communities, working to create jobs, homeownership, and opportunity for all Californians. And, he has fought for a budget that is balanced, fair, and protects critical such as education.

As Treasurer, Phil has also been an aggressive public advocate who helped lead the national movement towards corporate responsibility. He has fought hard to end the abuses that have harmed the financial security of California families and California’s economy.

For more than 30 years, Phil Angelides has stood up for the principles of responsibility, fairness and opportunity. Over the past two years, Phil has grown increasingly concerned about the direction California is heading under Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership. Schwarzenegger’s proposals to cut education and health care for families have threatened California’s quality of life, compelling Phil to stand up to lead the opposition to Schwarzenegger. Now, Phil Angelides is running for governor to take back this great state, put it to work for working Californians and build a better future for our children.

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Accomplishments

Increasing Educational Opportunities

Phil Angelides has been a longtime champion of education, believing that California's quality of life and future economic competitiveness depend upon a world-class system of education. He served as Co-Chair of the Sacramento Mayor's Commission on Education and the City's Future in 1995-96, and he led a unique bipartisan civic committee that helped turn around the city's troubled school district. As Treasurer, Angelides has launched a number of innovative programs to strengthen California's educational system.
Increasing Access to Quality Health Care

Phil Angelides believes that working families deserve affordable access to quality health care. He understands the stakes of health care reform and believes that affordable access to quality care is essential for the state's long-term economic competitiveness. The health care crisis must be addressed in the opening years of the 21st Century if we are to build an economy and a society of enduring strength.
The Power of the Purse: Protecting Taxpayers by Fighting Corporate Corruption

In recent years, we have seen the integrity and stability of our financial markets threatened by revelations of corporate malfeasance, deception, and fraud. The systemic breakdown in ethics and standards of conduct has shaken the very foundations of our financial institutions, damaged our economy, and harmed millions of Americans. Treasurer Angelides believes restoring the public's faith in our financial system is critical to our sustained economic prosperity.

Investing in Communities

As Treasurer, Angelides pioneered the Smart Investment and Double Bottom Line initiatives to direct investment capital through state programs and the State's pension and investment funds to spur economic growth in urban areas to support sensible growth patterns, create jobs, and earn solid returns for taxpayers and pensioners. Since these initiatives were launched in 2000, California has directed more than $26 billion in capital into investments ranging from urban businesses to mortgages for working Californians.
Protecting the Environment

Angelides has enhanced California's quality of life and economic competitiveness with innovative investment policies and programs that foster sustainable development and sound environmental practices.