Tim Donnelly
Tim Donnelly was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1966, moved to Virginia and grew up in Michigan. As the third oldest among 14 children, Tim learned from an early age the importance of responsibility, the value of hard work, and the gift of family. As a sophomore in High School, he paid his own tuition at a private high school by working several jobs.
Tim left Michigan after attending University of Michigan on scholarship for one year and made his way to California to attend the University of California, Irvine in 1985. Working several jobs to pay his own way, Tim earned his B. A. in English. After college he went to work for his father in the small family business, supplying parts to plastics manufacturers.
After five years, he started his own small business, providing solutions to his customer’s manufacturing problems. Having twenty years’ experience on the front lines of manufacturing, Tim brings a unique understanding of the problems facing one of the most important sectors in our economy.
In 1993, Tim married the love of his life, Rowena, a young widow raising two boys on her own. Together they have 5 sons and one grandson. During the older boys teenage years, Tim coached soccer for a dozen years, sometimes coaching multiple teams.
Starting in 2002, Tim began working in prison ministry, taking the lead after his mentor passed away, teaching the men of the Pilot Rock Camp in Bible Study and life skills courses for almost 8 years.
In 2005, Tim answered the call of his country, and joined the fight to secure our borders. As the founder of the largest Minuteman chapter in California, he leveraged the media to bring national attention to the Federal government’s failure to enforce the border. Since then, Congress voted against amnesty, to improve the border fence and double the Border Patrol presence. The American public is acutely aware of the drug war, which has claimed over 40,000 lives in 4 years, and the violence that has spilled over the border into California.
In 2010, Tim became a candidate for the California State Assembly. He joined a field of ten candidates. Tim ran a strong grassroots campaign, knocking on thousands of doors throughout his district. Despite being outspent by significant amounts, Tim prevailed on Election Day. Later that year, he was sworn in as a member of the Assembly.
In the Legislature, Tim has earned the reputation of a conservative who holds steadfast to his beliefs: pro-jobs policies, low taxes, public safety, and protecting the Second Amendment.
In addition, Tim led the fight to repeal AB 131, the California Dream Act, which provides illegal immigrants with college scholarships funded with taxpayer dollars. Tim traveled throughout the state, speaking directly with voters about the issue and received strong grassroots support. Overall, the statewide effort included over 10,000 volunteers and collected 450,000 signatures.
Recently, Tim successfully highlighted the neglected issue of human trafficking by being the author of legislation to designate every February 1st as Freedom from Slavery Day and each January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Tim is blessed to live in the scenic San Bernardino Mountains with his wonderful wife, Rowena, five sons, and one grandson.