Bill Brough

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Bill Brough
California State Assemblyman, Bill Brough.jpg
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 73rd district
In office
December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2020
Preceded byDiane Harkey
Succeeded byLaurie Davies
Personal details
Born
William P. Brough

(1966-10-15) October 15, 1966 (age 55)
Middletown, Connecticut
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Michelle Brough
Children2
ResidenceDana Point, California
Alma materUniversity of Connecticut
OccupationPolitician, Government Affairs Consultant
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1986–1990

Bill Brough (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]

Personal life[]

After 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[]

In 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 ago 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 December 2020, a former legislative aide filed a criminal complaint against Brough, accusing him of raping her in 2015.[8]

Campaign finance allegations[]

In 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.[9]

2020 reelection attempt[]

In 2020, Brough sought reelection to a fourth term. 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.[10]

2014 California State Assembly[]

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014
California's 73rd State Assembly district election, 2014
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[]

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 73rd State Assembly district election, 2016
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[]

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018
California's 73rd State Assembly district election, 2018
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[]

See also: 2020 California State Assembly election
2020 California's 73rd State Assembly district election
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[]

  1. ^ "William Brough". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  2. ^ Corr, Frank. "Californian Leaders in Dublin". hospitalityenews.ie. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  3. ^ Murphy, Mark (2016-07-18). "Strengthening Business Links Between California and Ireland". FFT.ie. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  4. ^ "William P. Brough – Council Member". City of Dana Point.
  5. ^ Bryan Anderson (June 24, 2019). "California lawmaker under fire for multiple cases of alleged sexual harassment". The Sacramento Bee.
  6. ^ "Assemblyman William Brough loses committee assignments after sexual misconduct investigation - Los Angeles Times".
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Former legislative aide accuses California lawmaker of rape". SFGate. San Francisco, CA. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Bryan Anderson (August 29, 2019). "California lawmaker was accused of harassment. Now his campaign spending is under investigation". The Sacramento Bee.
  10. ^ "Election 2020: Laurie Davies ready to serve 73rd Assembly District". 4 November 2020.

External links[]

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