Freshman Assemblyman Cameron Smyth joined the ranks of 79 other legislators in Sacramento on December 4 during swearing-in-ceremonies that kicked off the 2006-2007 session of the California State Assembly. The halls and chambers of the State Capitol were packed as the Assembly members took their oaths of office in front of their families and friends in a ceremony that included an address from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“It was quite an experience,” said Smyth upon returning to his home in Newhall during the legislative recess.
Smyth, the lone republican representing the city of Los Angeles in the Assembly — who won his seat in a landslide victory in November — will now represent the 38th District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, Simi Valley, Los Angeles and Glendale. Smyth, Santa Clarita’s former mayor and twice-elected city councilman was accompanied by his wife Lena, and sons Gavin and Rowan, along with his parents, Clyde and Sue Smyth.
“It was very emotional and very humbling at the same time.” Not wasting any time after the initial rush, Smyth immediately went to work by introducing Assembly Bill 47 in a move to bring Santa Clarita’s fight against the proposed Cemex mine to the state level. Mexico based Cemex Inc. has plans to begin operating a 69 million ton sand and gravel mine in the Santa Clarita Valley as soon as 2008 and the City is continuing its fight to keep mining at historic levels.
“We need to do everything we can to protect the quality of life in the region, and my legislation is another tool to shield the community from the damage this mega mine would cause,” said Smyth, who was recently named one of the top five freshman legislators by the Sacramento Bee. Smyth was recently appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee for the 2007-08 legislative session.
“This position provides me the opportunity to positively influence many of California’s most pressing environmental issues, as well as monitor sensitive environmental projects in my District like the cleanup of the Witaker-Bermite property in Santa Clarita and Rocketdyne in Venture County,” Smyth said.
With his sleeves rolled up and ready to work, Smyth will return to the Capitol when the Assembly reconvenes on January, 3.
Photos courtesy of Lena Smyth.
1: Newly Elected Assemblyman Cameron Smyth takes the oath of office at the State Capitol on December 4.
2: Assemblyman Cameron Smyth is joined by his wife Lena and the couple’s two young sons, Gavin, left and baby Rowan, right.