Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 33; Republican Party

The Matt Kokkonen story is really a story about the American Dream. A story of a young immigrant who came to our shores at the age of sixteen and through education, hard work, and strong religious faith, built one of San Luis Obispo's most successful business firms.

Now, Matt Kokkonen is entering the arena of public service by running for the California State Assembly, District 33. Matt's candidacy is not only a way to repay his adopted nation and state for the great opportunities he was afforded, but to bring a strong commitment to conservative Republican principles to Sacramento.

Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1945, Matt Kokkonen immigrated to America in 1962. A graduate of prestigious Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Matt holds a BA degree in Philosophy, a Master of Science degree in both Financial Services and Management and has been a Chartered Life Underwriter ( CLU ) since 1973 and a Chartered Financial Consultant ( ChFC ) since 1982. He has owned the Matt Kokkonen Agency in downtown San Luis Obispo since 1975 and has been a trusted financial advisor to thousands of clients on the Central Coast and across the country. He has lectured widely throughout Western Europe on financial planning issues, helping businesses design effective executive compensation, benefit, stock, and pension programs. He is fluent in four languages.

Matt is past President of the California Central Coast Chapter of Financial Service Professionals and the San Luis Obispo County Chapter of the Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

Committed to doing what's right, regardless of the risk or cost, Matt successfully took on a giant insurance company, fighting the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court and winning in a 9-0 vote in 1994.

An elected member of the San Luis Obispo County Republican Central Committee, Matt also serves on the Board of Directors of the Squire Canyon Community Services District, and the Board of Air-Vol Block, Inc. of San Luis Obispo. A Director of Simpson College in Redding, CA, he is also a Trustee and Deacon of Grace Church in San Luis Obispo. He has also served on the Budget Advisory Committee of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District. Matt is a Pilot and First Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, has been part of the Search and Rescue Squad of the Sheriff's Aero Squadron and holds an Honorable Discharge from the California National Guard.

Matt served as 33rd District Co-Chair of the Recall Gray Davis campaign and 33rd District Co-Chair of "Save our Licenses," aimed at repealing the law granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Matt and his wife of 36 years, Jean, have two children, Jana ( an Air Force Captain and doctor currently deployed to Turkey ) and Daniel.