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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Matthew Harper is a Republican member of the California State Assembly, representing District 74. He was first elected to the chamber in 2014.

Education

  • Attended, Orange Coast College
  • BS, Public Policy and Management, University of Southern California

Political Experience

  • Attended, Orange Coast College
  • BS, Public Policy and Management, University of Southern California
  • Assembly Member, California State Assembly, District 74, 2014-2018
  • Candidate, California State Assembly, District 74, 2018
  • Mayor, City of Huntington Beach, 2013-2014
  • Member, City of Huntington Beach City Council, 2010-2014

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Budget Committee, California State General Assembly

Former Member, Campus Climate Committee, California State Assembly

Former Vice Chair, Elections and Redistricting Committee, California State General Assembly

Former Member, Labor and Employment Committee, California State General Assembly

Former Member, Natural Resources Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Subcommittee 1 on Health and Human Services, California State General Assembly

Former Member, Transportation Committee, California State General Assembly

Former Member, Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, California State General Assembly

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Orange Coast College
  • BS, Public Policy and Management, University of Southern California
  • Assembly Member, California State Assembly, District 74, 2014-2018
  • Candidate, California State Assembly, District 74, 2018
  • Mayor, City of Huntington Beach, 2013-2014
  • Member, City of Huntington Beach City Council, 2010-2014
  • Member, Orange County Republican Party Central Committee, present
  • Member, Huntington Beach High School Alumni Association
  • Representative, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Council
  • Former State Chair, Young Republican Federation of California
  • Member, Board of Directors, Orange County Transportation Authority, December 2012-2014
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Huntington Beach Union High School District, 1998-2010

Other Info

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Surfing

Priority Issues:

Mayor Matthew Harper's top priorities include vigilant public safety, improving infrastructure integrity, promoting economic development, ensuring administrative & fiscal accountability, protecting property rights and preserving personal freedom.

Policy Positions

California State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing California's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Do you support repealing California's nonpartisan blanket primary election system?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of California?
- No

7. Do you support expanding state public housing programs?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in California?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from California high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Do you support permanent statewide water usage restrictions?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through California's health care programs?
- No

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in California's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in California's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by California state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No

4. Do you support California's "Sanctuary State" immigration policies?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- Education:The #1 funding priority for our state should be education. We need to hold schools accountable and improve student learning. Jobs & Economy:California needs a substantial change in favor of improving job creation in our state. The tax burden on employers and everyday Californians is too high. Regulations are restricting job growth. The CEQA law hurts the capacity to build private and public infrastructure. Employers in California are over-exposed to lawsuits and that?s chasing businesses out of California. Additionally, California?s labor laws are going in the wrong direction while other states are taking advantage of California?s poor decisions.

State Bills