Quick Facts
Biography
Jerome Edgar Horton (born September 14, 1956) is the member for the 3rd District of the California Board of Equalization and is also a former Chair.He is a former California State Assemblyman for the 51st District who served from 2000 until 2006.
On July 15, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Horton for the 3rd district of the California Board of Equalization to replace Judy Chu, who resigned from the board to become a member of the United States House of Representatives.Horton was confirmed by both houses of the Legislature and sworn into office on October 5, 2009, at which point he was immediately elected the Board's Vice Chair.On November 2, 2010, he was elected to his own four-year term.Horton served as Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2016.
Horton's tenure on the Board was often controversial.
An audit by the California Department of Finance of Horton's tenure as Board Chairman revealed missing funds and signs of nepotism, leading to calls for the governor to put the Board under a public trustee.In June 2017, the California Department of Justice began a criminal investigation into the members of the Board leading to Governor Jerome Brown stripping the Board of most of its powers.
Actor Rob Lowe alleged in a Feb. 24 email to board members that Horton had asked him and his wife, actress Sheryl Berkoff, if she “Jewed down” contractors who built their house. Berkoff is Jewish.Horton has never denied the allegations.
Pre-legislative career
Horton worked for the California Board of Equalization for over 20 years.
Election history
| 2010 California State Board of Equalization Member 4th District | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Jerome Horton (incumbent) | 1,223,906 | 71.8% | |
| American Independent | Shawn Hoffman | 215,639 | 12.6% | |
| Libertarian | Peter "Pedro" De Baets | 198,575 | 11.6% | |
| Peace and Freedom | Nancy Lawrence | 68,577 | 4.0% | |
| Majority | 1,008,267 | 59.2% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| 2006 California State Board of Equalization Member 4th District Democratic Primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Judy Chu | 243,428 | 49.7% | |
| Democratic | Jerome Horton | 154,536 | 31.5% | |
| Democratic | Rita Rogers | 60,621 | 12.3% | |
| Democratic | Vonny T. Abbott | 32,020 | 6.5% | |
| Majority | 88,892 | 18.2% | ||
| 2004 California State Assembly elections, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Jerome Horton (incumbent) | 89,509 | 84.1% | |
| Libertarian | Daniel R. Sherman | 16,941 | 15.9% | |
| Majority | 72,568 | 68.2% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| 2002 California State Assembly elections, 2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Jerome Horton (incumbent) | 49,718 | 100.0% | |
| Majority | N/A | — | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
