Private time

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- After five years in the political arena, state

Assemblyman Scott Baugh is looking forward to life at home.

The 38-yea r-old Surf City resident and Republican Party leader in the

state Assembly, where he represents the 67th District, will leave office

next week as Councilman Tom Harman is sworn in.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Baugh said. “I gave it my best over these last

few years, but I think it’s time to move on.”

Born and raised in Redding, Baugh studied business administration at

Virginia’s Liberty University and received his law degree from McGeorge

University in Sacramento before moving to Huntington Beach in 1990, where

he lives with his wife, Wendy, and their three dogs, Bailey, Hank and

Maddy.

Baugh took office in 1995 after an election to recall

then-Assemblywoman Doris Allen, who angered her own party officials by

making a deal with Democrats to become speaker of the Assembly.

Baugh’s campaign drew fire from then-Dist. Atty. Mike Cappizzi, who

claimed Baugh used illegal election tactics during the race.

The assemblyman, however, was cleared of the charges, and this year he

leaves office because of term limits.

“Scott came to public life in the most difficult of circumstances,”

said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), whom Baugh credits with

inspiring his drive into politics.

“With the recall and a corrupt district attorney trying to bring him

down before he even made it into office, I think a lesser person would

have given up and developed a bad attitude,” he added.

Instead, Rohrabacher said, Baugh has succeeded in his political

endeavors and won friends on both sides of the spectrum.

“Scott Baugh has been the single most effective legislator in the

history of Huntington Beach,” Mayor Dave Garofalo said. “He has brought

this city more money, more attention and more positive recognition than

any other politician in the 31 years I’ve lived here.”

Among his proudest achievements, Baugh said, are the bills passed to

reform the state’s smog check program and clamp down on adult businesses,

as well as a measure rejected by Gov. Gray Davis earlier this year that

would allocate state money to help cities such as Huntington Beach curb

urban runoff.

Funds for urban runoff could be included in the state budget next

year, and Baugh hopes efforts will continue in that direction, as well as

support for infrastructure and school improvements after his Assembly

departure.

Formerly an attorney for Union Pacific Railroad, the assemblyman is

hoping to join a major law firm to work in government relations, as well

as work to help rebuild the state’s Republican Party. And representing

the city and its neighbors again is not out of the question.

“The potential is there for running for another seat like Congress in

the future, but for now I’m looking forward to spending time with my wife

and staying here in the city,” Baugh said. “This is a wonderful

community, and working Monday through Friday in Sacramento is difficult.”

Recently, he and his wife took a deep-sea fishing trip to Cabo San

Lucas to relax as his term winds down. For now, Baugh said, he most

likely will be found playing basketball on his front porch during his

free time.