Catherine Blakespear

Summary

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Catherine Smith Blakespear (née Blake; born February 29, 1976) is an American politician and former journalist who is currently serving in the California State Senate. She is a Democrat representing the 38th Senate District, which encompasses the Northern San Diego County and Southern Orange County region.

Catherine Blakespear
Member of the California State Senate
from the 38th district
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Preceded byBrian Jones
Mayor of Encinitas
In office
February 8, 2016 – December 3, 2022
Preceded byKristin Gaspar
Succeeded byTony Kranz
Personal details
Born
Catherine Blake

(1976-02-29) February 29, 1976 (age 49)
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJeremy Spearman
Children2
ResidenceCardiff, California
EducationNorthwestern University (BS, MS)
University of Utah (JD)
OccupationEstate planning attorney
ProfessionPolitician
journalist (formerly)
Websitesd38.senate.ca.gov

Early life and education

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Blakespear was born on February 29, 1976, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California. She graduated from Torrey Pines High School in 1994 and graduated in 1999 from Northwestern University in Chicago where she earned a BS and MS degree in Journalism.[1] In 2006, she received her JD from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law 2006.[2]

Career

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Her professional experience includes working as a journalist for the Los Angeles Times in 1994, and the Associated Press Associated Press reporter[1], as an attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, and as the traffic commissioner for the City of Encinitas.[3]

Prior to her time in elected office, Blakespear was an estate planning attorney.[1]

Politics

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Prior to her election to the State Senate, Blakespear served two years on the Encinitas City Council starting in 2014, followed by six years as mayor from December 2016 to November 2022. While mayor, she also served as chair of SANDAG.[4]

California State Senate

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Catherine Blakespear is a member of the California State Senate, representing District 38. She assumed office on December 5, 2022, and her current term ends on December 7, 2026.[5] Blakespear won the general election for District 38 on November 8, 2022. She previously ran for election to represent District 36 but did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.

Personal life

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Blakespear's family has lived in the Encinitas area for nearly a century. Catherine met her husband while reporting on the Salt Lake City Olympics. Catherine and husband Jeremy reside in Encinitas. They have 2 children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Up Close & Personal – Inside Look at Encinitas' New Mayor Catherine Blakespear".
  2. ^ "Catherine Smith Blakespear".
  3. ^ "Catherine Blakespear". Ballotpedia. Lucy Burns Institute. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ^ " "The Mayor: Interview with Catherine Blakespear, 38th District candidate". May 15, 2009.
  5. ^ "Catherine Blakespear". Ballotpedia. Lucy Burns Institute. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
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  • Official website
  • Catherine Blakespear at Ballotpedia
  • Campaign website
  • Join California Catherine Blakespear