Get to know your 2018 California State Assembly candidates for the 38th Assembly District. Both the 36th and 38th State Assembly Districts, together, represent all of the constituents within Santa Clarita, and both are in an election year.

California State Assembly 36th District

Steve Fox

The sole Democratic challenger in the race against incumbent Assemblyman Thomas Lackey, Fox is looking to the reclaim the seat that he held in 2012.

Fox, on his official campaign website, has told voters that many of the issues he fought for while he was a member of the California State Assembly are still the issues that he’ll be focused on if they should re-elect him.

In 2012, Fox says that he “focused on restoring jobs, invigorating our local economy, expanding educational opportunities and keeping our families safe.”

Additionally, Fox highlighted his history of supporting aerospace development in the Antelope Valley, his desire to bring a Cal State University campus to the district and his open support for more regulation and oversight of violent sexual predators set to be released.

Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale

Tom Lackey is currently a Republican member of the California State Assembly representing California’s 36th Assembly District.

After graduating high school, he served as a missionary for two years, later returning home to attain a bachelor’s degree in special education from Utah State University. 

Lackey would later join the California Highway Patrol and go on to serve as a law enforcement officer for the next 28 years.

To this day, Tom continues to serve those who require special care in the community and advocates for state funding to the developmentally disabled.

Lackey has served as a member of the Palmdale Elementary School District Board of Trustees, and was elected to three consecutive terms on the Palmdale City Council.

California State Assembly 38th District

Christy Smith

Democratic challenger, Christy Smith, has lived in Santa Clarita for 36 years and is currently serving her second term as a Governing Board Member of the Newhall School District.

Before being elected as a board member, Smith was active in local education, serving as a PTA and site council member, while raising her two daughters.

Smith believes that more attention should be paid to education and wants to give more resources to schools. She aims to hire more teachers, reduce class sizes, prioritize after-school programs and make college affordable.

Smith also believes that the economy will grow by promoting small businesses. She also believes in moving California to a renewable energy grid and making sure California secures a sustainable water supply.

Smith graduated from Hart High School, and then moved on to College of the Canyons. Eventually, she graduated from UCLA, with honors, with a B.A. in Political Science.

Her first job after graduating was as an analyst for the U.S. Department of Education.

Christy Smith currently lives in Santa Clarita with her husband Phil and their two daughters.

Dante Acosta

Since 2016, Assemblyman Dante Acosta has been a Republican member of the California State Assembly representing California’s 38th Assembly District.

After 20 years advising individuals and small businesses and spending many hours volunteering in his community with Circle of Hope, William S. Hart Museum, Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club, Old Town Newhall Association, and coaching Little League and drama, Dante ran for a spot on the Santa Clarita City Council.

He served on the Economic Development Committee, Film and Tourism Committee and as Santa Clarita’s representative to the Southern California Association of Governments.

Acosta attended California State University of Northridge and the University of Phoenix.

He and his wife Carolyn currently reside in Santa Clarita where they have raised three children.

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