Bill Brough (/broʊ/, BROH; born October 15, 1966) is an American politician who served three terms in the California State Assembly. A Republican, he represented the 73rd district, encompassing southern Orange County.[1] Prior to being elected to the state legislature, he was a Dana Point City Councilman. Previously, Brough served as chief of staff to California State Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, White House liaison at the Department of Veterans Affairs in the George W. Bush administration, and aide to former congressman Christopher Cox. In 2016, he founded the California Legislative Irish Caucus.[2][3]
Bill Brough | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 73rd district | |
| In office December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Diane Harkey |
| Succeeded by | Laurie Davies |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William P. Brough October 15, 1966 Middletown, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Michelle Jackson |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Dana Point, California |
| Alma mater | University of Connecticut |
| Occupation | Politician, Government Affairs Consultant |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1986–1990 |
Personal life
editAfter high school, Brough enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving on active duty 1986–1990, and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1995. Brough and his wife have two children.[4]
Sexual harassment and violence allegations
editIn June 2019, two women accused Brough of making unwanted sexual advances to them in public settings. Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett charged that Brough cornered her in a local restaurant in March 2011, when both were serving on the Dana Point City Council, and pressed his groin against her. After she broke free and left, she filed a complaint against him with the city. Also, a Laguna Beach real estate agent who worked on campaigns for Bartlett and Brough, said Brough harassed her about five years prior, before he was sworn into the state Assembly in 2014. Brough has denied the allegations.[5]
On May 27, 2020, Brough was stripped of all his committee assignments after the California State Assembly Workplace Conduct Unit found that Brough had improperly touched and propositioned female staff members, including impliedly offering political favors in exchange for sexual activity.[6] In 2020, The Orange County Register reported that at least six women accused Brough of sexual assault or harassment over the previous decade.[7]
In spite of the sexual harassment allegations against him, Brough sought reelection to a fourth term in 2020. He was soundly defeated in the primary, coming in fourth place. Laguna Niguel Mayor Laurie Davies, a fellow Republican, went on to win the general election.[8]
In December 2020, days after Brough left the State Assembly, a former legislative aide filed a criminal complaint against him, accusing him of raping her in 2015.[9]
Campaign finance allegations
editIn August 2019, the California Ethics Commission announced it would investigate Brough's alleged misuse of campaign funds. He is charged with spending campaign contributions to pay off his family's cell phone bill, eat at expensive restaurants, and take a personal trip to a Boston Red Sox game, among other personal expenditures. The total payments in question since he took office add up to nearly $200,000.[10]
2014 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Wendy Gabriella | 16,420 | 27.8 | |
| Republican | Bill Brough | 16,365 | 27.7 | |
| Republican | Jesse Petrilla | 11,287 | 19.1 | |
| Republican | Paul G. Glabb | 8,353 | 14.2 | |
| Republican | Anna Bryson | 6,549 | 11.1 | |
| Total votes | 58,974 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Bill Brough | 76,783 | 67.9 | |
| Democratic | Wendy Gabriella | 36,292 | 32.1 | |
| Total votes | 113,075 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2016 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Bill Brough (incumbent) | 74,568 | 99.6 | |
| Democratic | Mesbah Islam (write-in) | 278 | 0.4 | |
| Total votes | 74,846 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Bill Brough (incumbent) | 144,653 | 68.8 | |
| Democratic | Mesbah Islam | 65,662 | 31.2 | |
| Total votes | 210,315 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2018 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Bill Brough (incumbent) | 55,579 | 47.1 | |
| Democratic | Scott Rhinehart | 46,436 | 39.4 | |
| Republican | Ed Sachs | 15,981 | 13.5 | |
| Total votes | 117,996 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Bill Brough (incumbent) | 115,636 | 56.2 | |
| Democratic | Scott Rhinehart | 90,016 | 43.8 | |
| Total votes | 205,652 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2020 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Laurie Davies | 32,514 | 27.5% | |
| Democratic | Scott Rhinehart | 27,026 | 22.8% | |
| Democratic | Chris Duncan | 21,838 | 18.4% | |
| Republican | Bill Brough (incumbent) | 20,281 | 17.1% | |
| Republican | Ed Sachs | 16,711 | 14.1% | |
| Total votes | 152,032 | 100.0% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Laurie Davies | 136,264 | 57.3% | |
| Democratic | Scott Rhinehart | 101,723 | 42.7% | |
| Total votes | 237,987 | 100.0% | ||
References
edit- ^ "William Brough". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ Corr, Frank. "Californian Leaders in Dublin". hospitalityenews.ie. Archived from the original on 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ Murphy, Mark (2016-07-18). "Strengthening Business Links Between California and Ireland". FFT.ie. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ "William P. Brough – Council Member". City of Dana Point.
- ^ Bryan Anderson (June 24, 2019). "California lawmaker under fire for multiple cases of alleged sexual harassment". The Sacramento Bee.
- ^ "Assemblyman William Brough loses committee assignments after sexual misconduct investigation - Los Angeles Times".
- ^ Staggs, Brooke (December 3, 2020). "Former legislative aide accuses Assemblyman Bill Brough of raping her in 2015". Orange County Register. Anaheim. CA. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ "Election 2020: Laurie Davies ready to serve 73rd Assembly District". 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Former legislative aide accuses California lawmaker of rape". SFGate. San Francisco, CA. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ Bryan Anderson (August 29, 2019). "California lawmaker was accused of harassment. Now his campaign spending is under investigation". The Sacramento Bee.