Guy Houston

Houston moved to Dublin, California, because he could afford a house there and wanted to be closer to his family. Houston first got involved in local politics in 1990 when he proposed a successful initiative to make the city's mayor an elected position.[3] He first elected to the Dublin City Council in 1992 and served as mayor of Dublin from 1994 until his resignation in 2001.[1] Houston resigned as mayor to focus on his Assembly campaign.[8][9]

Houston was first elected to the California State Assembly in 2002, defeating Contra Costa County supervisor Donna Gerber with 53.6% of the vote.[10] He was re-elected in 2004 and 2006. He was term-limited in 2008 and was succeeded by Democrat Joan Buchanan.

Houston represented the 15th district, which, during his time in the Assembly, encompassed parts of Contra Costa, Alameda, San Joaquin, and Sacramento Counties.[11] During his time in the Assembly, Houston served on the Transportation, Local Government, and Banking and Finance Committees.[6]

Houston was considered a potential challenger to Jerry McNerney in California's 11th congressional district in 2008 but declined to run because he was not considered conservative enough to defeat McNerney.[12] He instead ran for the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors against Mary Piepho, a political ally and former staffer of Houston's.[13] Piepho defeated Houston with 53% of the vote.[14]

In 2004, Houston and his father, Fred, were sued by four former business clients who accused Houston of defrauding them out of $340,000. The lawsuit came after Fred filed for bankruptcy for his business, Winning Action Investments, in 2003. Houston settled the case in court in 2007.[15][16]