Randy Voepel

Randy Greg Voepel (born September 21, 1950) is an American politician. He served in the city government of Santee, California and in the California State Assembly from the 71st district. He was the vice-chair of the Veterans Affairs, Aging & Long-Term Care, and Public Employment & Retirement committees and a member of the Insurance, Local Government, and Joint Legislative Audit committees. Voepel lost his reelection bid in the 2022 California State Assembly election, with his term ending on December 6, 2022.

Randy Voepel
Randy Voepel
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 71st district
In office
December 5, 2016 – December 6, 2022
Preceded byBrian Jones
Succeeded byKate Sanchez
Mayor of Santee, California
In office
2000–2016
Preceded byJack E. Dale
Succeeded byJohn Minto
Member of the Santee City Council
In office
1996–2000
Personal details
Born (1950-09-21) September 21, 1950
Saint Charles, Missouri, U.S.[1]
Political partyRepublican
Children2, including Laura
Residence(s)Santee, California, U.S.
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Battles/warsVietnam War

Early life

On September 21, 1950, Voepel was born in Saint Charles, Missouri.[1][2] In August 1969, Voepel enlisted in the United States Navy. During the Vietnam War, Voepel served on the USS Buchanan, a guided-missile destroyer. Voepel received the Combat Action Ribbon and military awards.[2][3]

Career

In 1996, Voepel became a member of the Santee City Council. In 2000, Voepel became the Mayor of Santee until 2016.[4]

On November 8, 2016, Voepel won the election and became a Republican member of California State Assembly for District 71, encompassing most of inland San Diego County and part of Riverside County.

In 2022, redistricting would have placed him into a new district with another member of the state Assembly, Marie Waldron, but Voepel lost by a wide margin.[5]

Comments on January 6th

Following the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Voepel said, "This is Lexington and Concord. First shots fired against tyranny. Tyranny will follow in the aftermath of the Biden swear-in on January 20th."[6]

Electoral history

2020 California State Assembly
California's 71st State Assembly district election, 2020[7][8]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Voepel (incumbent) 77,069 61.1
Democratic Liz "Elizabeth" Lavertu 49,073 38.9
Total votes 126,142 100.0
General election
Republican Randy Voepel (incumbent) 136,156 59.6
Democratic Liz "Elizabeth" Lavertu 92,385 40.4
Total votes 228,541 100.0

2018 California State Assembly
See also: California State Assembly election, 2018
California's 71st State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Voepel (incumbent) 41,561 43.6
Democratic James Elia 30,672 32.2
Republican Larry A. Wilske 23,106 24.2
Total votes 95,339 100.0
General election
Republican Randy Voepel (incumbent) 100,386 60.6
Democratic James Elia 65,194 39.4
Total votes 165,580 100.0
Republican hold

2016 California State Assembly
See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 71st State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Voepel 51,857 59.9
Republican Leo Hamel 23,990 27.7
Republican Tony Teora 10,770 12.4
Total votes 86,617 100.0
General election
Republican Randy Voepel 108,049 65.8
Republican Leo Hamel 56,184 34.2
Total votes 164,233 100.0
Republican hold

Awards
  • Combat Action Ribbon.[2]
  • Vietnam Cross Gallantry.[2]

Personal life

Voepel was formerly married to Pamela Palmer.[9] He is now married to Susan. He has two adult children.[1] His grandson is identified as the suspect charged in the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub shooting.[10][11][12] His former son-in-law is Aaron Brink, a mixed martial arts fighter and former pornographic film actor.[13] Voepel and his wife live in Santee, California.[4]

References
  1. "Joint Handbook 2019-20" (PDF). senate.ca.gov. Senate of California. pp. 261–262.
  2. August, JW (April 16, 2018). "False Allegations of Stolen Valor Raised Against Assemblyman Randy Voepel". nbcsandiego.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  3. "Biographical Data - Randy Greg Voepel". documentcloud.org. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  4. "Randy Voepel's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  5. Rendon-Alvarez, Karla (November 8, 2022). "Here Are the Election Results for San Diego County's California Assembly Races". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  6. Davis, Kristina (January 9, 2021). "The Capitol siege was far from San Diego. Its fringe ideologies were right at home". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. "Statement of Vote. Presidential Primary Election March 3, 2020" (PDF). ca.gov. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. "Elections and Voter Information: California Secretary of State".
  9. "Randy Voepel: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". November 20, 2022.
  10. Earnest, Malik (November 20, 2022). "Report: Accused Colorado Springs shooter is grandson of California Assemblyman Randy Voepel, former Santee Mayor". cbs8.com | Associated Press. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  11. Gazette, Brooke Nevins and Carol McKinley The (November 20, 2022). "Anderson Lee Aldrich, Colorado Springs mass shooting suspect, may have had earlier run-ins with police". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  12. Levine, Sam (November 20, 2022). "At least five people killed in shooting at gay nightclub in Colorado Springs". the Guardian. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  13. de Puy Kamp, Majlie; Devine, Curt; Glover, Scott (November 23, 2022). "Details are coming to light about the alleged gunman who killed five people at an LGBTQ nightclub". CNN. Retrieved November 23, 2022. Aldrich was born in May of 2000 under the name Nicholas Brink, and is the son of Laura Voepel and Aaron Brink, who married in 1999. Voepel, the daughter of California Assemblyman Randy Voepel, was granted sole legal and physical custody of her son in 2007.
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