Bruce Nestande facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bruce Nestande
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| Member of the California State Assembly from the 70th district |
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| In office December 2, 1974 - November 30, 1980 |
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| 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 | Beverly |
| Children | Brian Nestande Barry |
| Education | University of Minnesota Lincoln Law School of Sacramento |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant  |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Bruce Kenneth Nestande (born January 28, 1938 – died July 9, 2020) was an American politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the California State Assembly and as a Supervisor for Orange County.
Early Life and Military Service
Bruce Nestande was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When he was young, he was chosen by the Kansas City Athletics baseball team. But he decided to go to college instead. He earned a degree in economics and political science from the University of Minnesota in 1960. Later, he also earned a law degree from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.
After college, Nestande joined the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant in 1960. He served for four years on active duty. This included 14 months in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He left the Marine Corps Reserve in 1972 as a captain.
In 1966, Bruce Nestande became the first director of a special building. This building was a full-size copy of Independence Hall. It was located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.
Political Career Highlights
Bruce Nestande worked for Governor Ronald Reagan from 1971 to 1972. He also helped with the California Committee for the Re-Election of the President in 1972. From 1972 to 1973, he was the Executive Director for the California Republican Party.
In 1974, Nestande was elected to the California State Assembly. He represented the 70th District in Orange County. He quickly became a leader in the Assembly. In his second term, he was the Assembly Minority Whip. In his third term, he became the Minority Caucus Chairman. This was the second-highest position for Republicans in the Assembly.
During his time in the Assembly, he led important committees. He was the Chairman of the Human Resources Committee. He also chaired the Select Committee on Veterans Affairs. He was also a member of committees for Criminal Justice, Housing, Community Development, and more.
Instead of running for a fourth term in the Assembly in 1980, Nestande ran for the Orange County Board of Supervisors. He won this election. During his time as a Supervisor, he helped start many transportation projects. These included the Toll Roads of Orange County. He also supported building the Prado Dam in Riverside County.
In 1984, Nestande was re-elected to the Board of Supervisors. From 1984 to 1988, he was part of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. He resigned from the Board of Supervisors in January 1987.
In 1994, he led the campaign for Michael Huffington. Huffington was trying to become a U.S. Senator.
Family Life
Bruce Nestande later moved to Newport Beach. He had two sons, Barry and Brian. His older son, Barry, worked as a top political strategist in California. His younger son, Brian, also worked in politics. Brian was elected to the Assembly in 2008.
Bruce Nestande's daughter-in-law, Gina (Brian's wife), was elected to the Palm Desert City Council in 2016. She became Mayor in 2019.
