Excerpted from the San Jose State University's Washington Square Magazine
Winter 2008

California State Assemblymember Jim Beall Jr. (D-San José) may be in his first term representing the 24th Assembly District, but he's no novice when it comes to holding elected office. In 1980, at age 28, he was elected to the San José City Council, where he served 14 years. That foray into politics stemmed from a desire to halt urban sprawl. From a "social and environmental standpoint," Beall believed the planning polices of his hometown left much to be desired. Tremendous growth, coupled with the development of the high tech industry and the need for open space, had drastically altered the complexion of the region."The quality of life was suffering," he says, "and I wanted to improve that quality of life."

Transportation and Healthcare Issues

As a City Council member, Beall became known as an advocate for the county's neediest residents, including emancipated foster youth, disabled individuals and the uninsured. He worked to reform Medi-Cal and welfare programs and to create safe, affordable housing.

Elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1994, where he served 12 years, he continued to champion those causes. He chaired the Board of Supervisors' Children, Seniors and Families Committee and considers one of his most important contributions to date the successful passage by the board of the Children's Health Initiative. (His interest in improving the foster care system was underscored in July when Assembly Speaker Karen Bass appointed him chair of the Select Committee on Foster Care.)

During his career as a supervisor, Beall also became a nationally recognized expert in the field of transportation planning. From 1998 to 2000, as chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, he was instrumental in delivering more than $12 million in allocated funds to Santa Clara County.

State Office

As an assemblymember, as well as on the campaign trail for reelection, Beall has encountered a lot of anxious voters.

"People are stressed economically," he reports. "We have to respect that and be careful about any tax increases on the middle class. More than with any other aspect of the state budget, the voters are concerned about education. They don't want their education system to fall through."

It is critically important, he says, that "every high school graduate qualified to enter college has the economic opportunity to do so. Our college grads represent California's future. We must find ways -- such as a prepaid tuition program -- that give families and students assurances that they will be able to afford a college education."

In the State Assembly, Beall chairs the Services Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. In addition, he sits on the Budget, Higher Education and Veterans' Affairs committees.

It's a demanding profession, politics. Campaigning isn't "easy," Beall readily admits. "You have to work hard -- to raise money and so forth. You can't overreact and become emotional and expect to get elected. You have to keep a positive attitude." And for a newly elected member of the Assembly, the work pace doesn't slacken, it accelerates. "You can't be lazy," Beall continues. "You have to study and master the issues. You have to master the budget. No one is going to teach you. You can have mentors, but you have to learn it yourself."

Political Lessons

Now in his third consecutive political office and having learned the ropes in Sacramento, Beall understands which character traits make for an effective legislator in California in 2008. Number one? "Patience," he says. "You have to be willing to work with anybody and have a collaborative view. You can't let your ego get in the way of reaching solutions."

In a televised "Democracy on Demand" interview, Beall explained that whereas a county supervisor needs the agreement of seven other people to move a project forward, an assemblymember needs the agreement of 120 legislators, plus the governor.

Compromise is Key

Beall mastered the art of compromise as a supervisor and Metropolitan Transportation Commissioner, working with commissioners representing nine other Bay Area counties.

"I had to represent Santa Clara County, getting the best projects we could, but at the same time respecting other projects from other areas. That was extremely difficult because different people had different ideas. At the state level, the budget, which has to be approved with a two-thirds vote, means compromising with the other party. And that, of course, is very difficult. As much as possible, you have to try to work as a team with other legislators and your staff people and create an atmosphere of mutual respect."

Equally Important: An Ally at Home

Patience, the ability to collaborate and compromise and …tenacity. "The thing about me is I never give up," Beall says. "You say: 'OK, if I don't win it this year, I can go back and try to win it the next year.'"

He describes wife Patricia as his "strongest support and ally, the best political advisor of my life. She feels free to criticize me and tell me what I need to work on. She reminds me that the process is important. She reminds me to listen."

And like the effective politician and devoted husband he is, Jim Beall listens very, very well.

-- Kat Meads

A Family of Spartans

"San José State is instrumental to the vitality of Silicon Valley," says Jim Beall. "The university has been effective in anticipating the valley's need for prepared graduates who have the technical intellect and the smarts to power our economy." More than a few of those graduates share the name Beall.

The Beall/SJSU legacy began when family patriarch James Thomas Beall Sr. met wife to- be Katherine, '48 BA, '75 MA, Education, on campus.

Of the 10 children born to the couple, eight attended their hometown university. Jim Jr. graduated in 1974 with a degree in political science, followed by brother Patrick, '77 Geography, brother Fred, '81 Geology, and sister Colleen, '81 Liberal Studies.

Four years later a second wave of Bealls arrived. Mike Beall received his bachelor's in engineering in 1985. Frank Beall graduated in 1991 with a master's in social science, and in 1993, Mary Beall, like brother Mike, received an undergraduate degree in engineering. Sister Katie also attended SJSU.

Besides sharing an alma mater, do the Bealls also share a similar political viewpoint?

That question brings a laugh from eldest son Jim. "We have different perspectives, you know what I mean? In our family there are Republicans, Democrats and independents."

Nor does politics get much play when the Beall family gathers."We love to talk about what's going on with the family, "the assemblymember reveals. "There's so much of us -- that takes a lot of time."