Bruce Nestande
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Bruce Nestande | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1975 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 70th district | |
| In office December 2, 1974 – November 30, 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Robert H. Burke |
| Succeeded by | John Lewis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 28, 1938 Minneapolis, Minnesota, US |
| Died | July 9, 2020 (aged 82) |
| Spouse(s) | Beverly Nestande (divorced) Pamela Nestande |
| Children | 4 including: Brian Nestande |
| Education | University of Minnesota Lincoln Law School of Sacramento |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Rank | Captain  |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Bruce Kenneth Nestande (January 28, 1938 – July 9, 2020) was an American politician who served as a Republican California State Assemblyman and Orange County Supervisor.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nestande was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics but opted to attend college on a Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship instead.[1][2] He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in economics and political science,[3][4] and later attended night law school to earn a J.D. from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.[5]
Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota, Nestande was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1960. During his Marine service, he served four years on active duty, including fourteen months with an infantry battalion in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He separated from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1972, having attained the rank of captain.[4]
In 1966, Nestande became the inaugural director of the full-scale replica building of Independence Hall at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.[4]
Political career
He was a special assistant to Governor Ronald Reagan from 1971–1972, State Field Director of Operations for the California Committee for the Re-Election of the President in 1972, and Executive Director of the California Republican Party from 1972–1973.[2][4][6]
Nestande returned to Reagan's office in 1974 but left after less than a year when he was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 70th District in Orange County.[4][6] He quickly climbed in the legislative leadership, becoming Assembly Minority Whip in his second term, and then Minority Caucus Chairman (the second-ranking position in the Assembly Republican leadership) in his third term. During his three terms in the Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Human Resources Committee and the Select Committee on Veterans Affairs. He was also a member of the Criminal Justice, Housing and Community Development Committee; the Ways and Means Committee; and the Resources, Land Use and Energy Committee.
Rather than seeking a fourth Assembly term in 1980, Nestande successfully sought election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, defeating incumbent Edison Miller.[6] As a result of the 1980 campaign, Miller sued Nestande for defamation. Nestande won summary judgment against Miller, who appealed, but the California Fourth District Court of Appeal unanimously confirmed Nestande's victory.[7]
Nestande won re-election to the Board of Supervisors in 1984. From 1984–1988, Nestande was a member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.[6] During his tenure on the Board of Supervisors, Nestande helped launch a number of transportation projects, including the Toll Roads of Orange County. He also helped push for the construction of Prado Dam in Riverside County.[1]
In the November 1986 election, Nestande unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Secretary of State March Fong Eu and would resign from the Board of Supervisors less than three months later, in January 1987.[6]
In 1994, he was campaign chairman for Michael Huffington's bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, which Huffington narrowly lost to Feinstein by 1.9%.