J. Stephen Peace
| Steve Peace | |
|---|---|
 |
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| CA State Senate | |
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In office 1993–2002 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 30, 1953 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Cheryl Peace |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | El Cajon |
James Stephen Peace (born March 30, 1953) is an American film writer, producer, and Democratic politician.
Peace was born in San Diego to two teachers. He attended Bonita Vista High School, where he was a standout athlete and president of the student body, and then the University of California, San Diego, majoring in political science.
His few film credits include the Killer Tomatoes cult series: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (actor, producer, writer), Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (actor, producer, writer), Killer Tomatoes Strike Back (actor, producer), and Killer Tomatoes Eat France (producer, writer). He also produced, wrote, and acted in the 1987 film Happy Hour.
Peace got his start in politics as a protégé of Assemblyman Larry Kapiloff. He served in the California State Assembly from 1982–1992 and the California Senate from 1993–2002.
In 1994, Peace authored a series of criminal justice reform measures signed by Governor Pete Wilson that significantly increased penalties for violent criminals, including the "one strike and you're out" bill aimed at violent sex offenders. Peace also co-authored legislation that increased the punishment for drug dealers who sell controlled substances on or around elementary, middle, and high schools.
In 2000 and 2001, then Senator Peace wrote and secured the passage of new laws to protect the privacy of individuals' personal information. Senate Bill 129 created the Office of Privacy Protection within the Department of Consumer Affairs to inform the public of potential options for protecting their privacy, receive complaints concerning persons unlawfully using others' personal information, and to help prosecute identity theft and other privacy related crimes.
Peace was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy from 1995 - 1997. During this time, the electricity deregulation bill, AB 1890, was passed and signed into law by Governor Pete Wilson. Some incorrectly named Peace as author of this bill, however, the author was Jim Brulte, a Republican from Rancho Cucamonga. Many believed this bill led to the California electricity crisis of 2000 and 2001. At the time, several prominent California newspapers came out in support of AB 1890, including the San Jose Mercury News. An editorial from 1996 supported the measures taken by the legislature at the time:
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