Candidate for
Member; California State Assembly; District 4

Profile: Scott Warren, Democratic Candidate for State Assembly, Fourth District

I was born in Palo Alto, CA in March 1957, and I grew up in Sunnyvale. My Dad was a mechanic for a car dealership. My Mom was an engineer in the then fledgling electronics industry, and supported our family after my Dad passed away. I'll never forget how hard both of them worked, and I have always been inspired by their examples to work for my living, and to advance myself academically.

Although my High School grades were good, I was unable to afford a college education. Instead, I went to work for Amdahl Corporation, a computer manufacturer, as a shipping clerk. I took advantage of Amdahl's education assistance plan, and enrolled in De Anza College's evening education program. Working full-time, and attending night classes on a part-time basis, I earned an Associate's Degree in transportation, and advanced in my career to the role of a transportation analyst.

My income at Amdahl was good, but it wasn't sufficient for me to own a home in the Bay Area's inflated housing market. Since owning a home was something I valued very highly, I left my job at Amdahl in 1988 and moved to the Sacramento area. Much to my dismay, I soon discovered that I would have to start all over again at the bottom of the economic ladder. My first job in this area was a temporary one at Hewlett-Packard. I was a material handler. After a year, I was hired by HP to a full-time position. My status as a full-time employee meant that I was eligible for HP's tuition reimbursement plan. With HP's assistance, I enrolled in the evening education program at the California State University, Sacramento, and earned a bachelor's Degree in economics. I continued on from there, and after several more years, I earned a Master's degree in economics from CSUS. Meanwhile, I progressed in my career at HP to my current position as a business analyst, and I now own the home I sought when I moved here 14 years ago.

Once I became established in this area, I became active in the community. I am a Past Master of Penryn-Gold Hill Masonic Lodge. I am the current Associate Patron, and a Past Patron of the Penryn Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. I am an elder of Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church, and I serve on its governing board. I founded the Gold Country Democratic Club, and I am its current Chairperson. Finally, I am a member of the Placer County Democratic Central Committee.

My experience gives me a perspective that most candidates for public office never acquire. I know how hard it can be to fight your way into the middle class, and how hard it is to stay there. I have fought that battle twice. I know how difficult it can be to find a steady job in the midst of a recession. It's a frustrating, demoralizing experience that often requires one to become resigned to lowered expectations. I know what it's like to work for an extended period as a temporary employee. It's a precarious existence in which one's job can disappear at any moment. I know what it's like to work without health insurance. It's a high-wire act in which families are one accident away from financial ruin. I know what it's like to work without sick leave or vacation benefits. It's going to work when you're too sick to hold down your breakfast. These are the realities of today's economy, and most politicians can only speak of them in abstract. I have lived them.