I was born in Oakland, California, and graduated high school in Fremont one year ahead of my peers. I graduated one week after my twenty first birthday with a Bachelor of Science from California State University in the newly created discipline of Occupational Health Science, a combination of engineering sciences and medicine. After a brief time employed as an engineering representative for Aetna in their San Francisco and Buffalo offices, I received my Masters of Science in Occupational Health Science from the City University of New York under the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fellowship program.

After graduation, I worked with a Washington DC consulting firm and was their site manager of Occupational Safety and Health at Love Canal, New York (the nation’s most notorious hazardous waste site at that time). I then worked as the employee Safety and Health coordinator at Fairchild Semiconductor, San Jose, then as the Manager of Occupational Safety and Health at GTE Sprint, Burlingame.

During my professional employment, I obtained the following board certifications: The American Board of Safety Professionals and the American Board of Industrial Hygienists.

However, my first love was building, and with the blessings of my wife, at twenty eight years of age, I pursued renovating buildings in Stockton. I was granted a General Building contractor license in 1994 by the state of California. I later developed a way to build steel frame homes, founded the M C Belden company and developed the steel frame home components EZ stud and EZ joist.

Although none of my business ventures made me rich or famous, I am happy to have been able to pursue my dreams. I ran for Supervisor in Calaveras County (1992), attended the San Francisco Police Academy (1989). I am presently renovating the historic Inspiration Lodge on Highway 88 in Amador County.

My wife Christine and I live in the small community of Railroad Flat, Calaveras County in the home I designed and built in 1991. I have been married for thirty-six years and our children consist of one large macaw named Rudy, two equally large Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs, Oscar and Lola, and numerous felines, many unwelcome raccoons and an occasional mountain lion

I am a candidate for the State Legislature because I understand the particular rural needs of our area of California. I will support legislation and policies that better suit the needs of my constituents with “common sense” legislation.
Our elected representatives must be the voice of the people, not political parties or special interest groups whose sole purpose is to expand their ideology. Making public policy is not easy. It should not be. It should take into consideration the desires of all constituents as best as possible.
Like many of you, I am committed to reducing government waste, stretching each tax dollar further than it has ever been before. As a steward of the people’s money we must not foolishly spend more than we take in and always be aware that every penny misspent will affect our future. That future is the one our children will inherit.
I will also be a strong and proud leader of personal freedoms and rights. Your freedom to choose religion, education, sexual orientation, marriage, women’s choice or the right to bear firearms will always be paramount. We must not allow our rights to be diminished in any way.
My victory as a “No Party Preference” legislator will be the first in California’s history and a victory for the voters who support me in representing the Foothills District. We, as a legislative district, will undoubtedly be looked upon as leaders and pioneers of future public policy. More education and qualifications at mcbelden.com
This was my candidate’s statement for the 2016 California State Assembly. Mailed to hundreds of thousands of registered voters and reprinted in numerous California newspapers. This is what I stand for and will continue to believe in.