HEART TO HEART Q&A with Santa Barbara Assemblyman Gregg Hart
by CCA Director of Communications Katie Roberti
Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) joined the California Legislature in January 2023. In that time, he’s gone out of his way to work with CCA’s Government Affairs Team and get to know ranchers. In this Q&A, read about the priority issues Assemblymember Hart is working on in Sacramento, how he shares about rural issues with his colleagues from urban districts, and more. The answers in this Q&A have been edited for brevity and clarification. To hear the entire interview specifically intended for California beef producers and the ranching community, listen to season 4, episode 10 of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast.
Q
Can you tell me little bit about your background, how you got to the Assembly and why you wanted to represent your community?
A
Well, the answer to the last part of that question is almost obvious, because it’s one of the most beautiful parts of California. When I tell colleagues up here in Sacramento that I represent Santa Barbara and South San Luis Obispo County, they just look at me and say, what, did you win the lottery or something? And I feel that way every day. I’ve been living in Santa Barbara County virtually my whole life and have done business in the county and ran a childcare center for 20 years. I’ve been involved in local government and community service, because that was a really important value in my family life. I found a niche serving my community, and I get tremendous gratitude from that. And I have great pride in all the things that everybody’s doing in our community to support each other and to really create an amazing place where people give back. Being in the state legislature is an honor, and I take this job very seriously and really work hard at it. It’s not easy getting back and forth between Santa Barbara and Sacramento, but it is well worthwhile. And best part of my week is when I fly back and come over the mountains in Santa Barbara County and look out at the Channel Islands and realize this is my home, and I’m really proud to represent this area.
20 California Cattleman July 2024
Q
I’m sure legislators think you won the lottery, but I’m also sure they ask, why did you leave? Why would you come to Sacramento?
A
That’s a legitimate and great question, and the answer is that there are so many issues that affect my community and all of us in California that the legislature has to deal with. A lot of the conversation in Sacramento is dominated by the Los Angeles area and the Bay Area, because that’s where the bulk of the California population is. Despite that, there are important other places in California, like the Central Coast, that need to have representation and need to have our issues elevated when the discussions are happening here in the state capitol. So, we created a Central Coast Caucus that has the members from Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties, that area between Los Angeles and San Francisco. We have 10 members who are both from the Senate and from the Assembly. It has really been a big addition, I think, to raise the visibility of our part of the state of California and the issues that we face. Ranching is one of the big industries across the Central Coast that deserves a highlight and more emphasis. Having this vehicle with the Central Coast Caucus has made a big difference here in the work that I’m doing in the Capitol and something I’m very proud of.