State senator no longer has a home in Thousand Oaks

McCLINTOCK'S ROOTS DEEP IN T.O.- State Sen. Tom McClintock grew up in Thousand Oaks. As a freshman at Thousand Oaks High School in 1971, right, he could only dream of serving his classmates and their future families as a state legislator. Although state Sen. Tom McClintock's 19th District covers Santa Barbara County, most of Ventura County and a portion of Los Angeles County, he chooses to have his office in Thousand Oaks.

He was born July 10, 1956 in White Plains, N.Y., and moved to Thousand Oaks in 1965 with his parents, Tom and Chris, and his younger sister, Virginia. He grew up here attending public school and graduated from Thousand Oaks High School.

Thousand Oaks is also where he and his wife, Lori, married. Their children, Justin and Shanna, were born at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center. McClintock's father is now buried in Thousand Oaks.

During the 2000 election McClintock's opponent criticized him for not living in Thousand Oaks. At that time, McClintock explained he made the decision to move his family to Sacramento, where he spends most of his time serving his district as he works as a full-time legislator.

"I am willing to give a lot to serve my constituents, but I will be a fulltime father to my children," he said.

Three years ago the McClintocks sold their family home in Thousand Oaks and made his parents' home their residence to help care for his ill father, the senator said. He now stays with his widowed mother when he comes to town for a couple of days about every three weeks, he said.

At that time his door is open to meet with his constituents by appointment. They may also visit him at his Sacramento office.

McClintock has become a prominent political figure after running for governor of California during the recall election of 2004. He speaks on a variety of issues in local and national forums.

"Tom McClintock is a popular politician because a lot of people are fans of his overall philosophy of smaller government," Mayor Jacqui Irwin said.