John Laird (American politician)

John Laird
Laird in 2020
Member of the California Senate from the 17th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 7, 2020
Preceded by	Bill Monning
Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency
In office January 5, 2011 – January 11, 2019
Governor	Jerry Brown
Preceded by	Lester Snow
Succeeded by	Wade Crowfoot
Member of the California State Assembly from the 27th district
In office December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2008
Preceded by	Fred Keeley
Succeeded by	Bill Monning
Mayor of Santa Cruz
In office 1983–1984
Preceded by	Bruce van Allen[1]
Succeeded by	Mardi Wormhoudt
In office 1987–1988
Preceded by	Jane Weed[2]
Succeeded by	Mardi Wormhoudt[3]
Personal details
Born	(1950-03-29) March 29, 1950 (age 74) Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	John Flores
Residence	Santa Cruz, California
Alma mater	University of California Santa Cruz
Website	Laird for Senate

John Laird (born March 29, 1950), an American politician, is the California State Senator for District 17, since 7 December 2020,^[4][5][6] and was Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency^[7] from 2011 to 2019 and a former legislator who represented the 27th district in the California State Assembly until 2008. The 27th district included parts of Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County and Monterey County. Laird (along with Mark Leno) was one of the first two openly gay men to serve in the California legislature. Laird became one of the United States' first openly gay mayors in 1983 when he took over the mayoralty of the city of Santa Cruz, California.^[8]