Joe Baca
| Joe Baca | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 43rd district |
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In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Ken Calvert |
| Succeeded by | Maxine Waters |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 42nd district |
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In office November 16, 1999 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | George Brown, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Gary Miller |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 32nd district |
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In office 1998–1999 |
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| Preceded by | Ruben Ayala |
| Succeeded by | Nell Soto |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 62nd district |
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In office 1992–1998 |
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| Preceded by | William H. Lancaster |
| Succeeded by | John Longville |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 23, 1947 Belen, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party |
Democratic (Before 2015) Republican (2015–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Baca |
| Children |
Joe Baca, Jr. Jeremy Baca Natalie Baca Jennifer Baca |
| Residence | Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | California State University, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Public relations |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
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| Service/branch |
 United States Army
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| Years of service | 1966–1968 |
| Rank |
 Specialist 4
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| Unit | 101st Airborne Division |
Joe Natalio Baca (born January 23, 1947) is a U.S. Representative, last serving California's 43rd congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 42nd from 1999 to 2003, is located in southwestern San Bernardino County and includes Fontana, Rialto, Ontario and parts of the city of San Bernardino. After redistricting, he decided to run in the new, adjacent 35th congressional district, where he faced fellow Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod (due to California's "top two" primary system). On November 6, 2012, Baca lost his seat by a margin of 55.7% to 44.3%. He ran again in 2014 but came fifth with 11.2%. He subsequently announced that he was running for Mayor of Fontana. He lost in a landslide and subsequently announced his retirement from politics.
In June 2015, Baca switched his affiliation to the Republican Party, citing his "core Christian" and pro-business beliefs.
Baca was born in Belen, New Mexico in 1947, the youngest of 15 children in a primarily Spanish-speaking household. His father was a railroad laborer. The family moved to Barstow, California when Joe was young, where he shined shoes at age 10, delivered newspapers, and later worked as a laborer for the Santa Fe Railroad, until he was drafted in 1966, serving in the United States Army until 1968. He did not serve in Vietnam.
Following military service, Baca attended Barstow Community College and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. He worked for 15 years in community relations with General Telephone and Electric. In 1979, he was the first Latino elected to the Board of Trustees for the San Bernardino Valley College District. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1992, and to the State Senate in 1998.
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