Former First District San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt is ending his exploratory State Assembly campaign and moving to Kentucky to work as a public affairs contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy, according to announcement posted Friday to his blog, http://joinbrad.com.
In December, Mitzelfelt formed a committee to potentially seek Assemblyman Tim Donnelly’s 33rd District seat while the Twin Peaks Republican considers a run for California Governor.
“This is the best decision for me and my family,” Mitzelfelt said. “While I will miss the High Desert, my continuation in elective politics would have most likely had to occur in the Legislature. The idea of spending four days a week in Sacramento, away from my wife and young children, was weighing on me. This opportunity in Kentucky allows me to resume my previous career path, and it will allow me to be at home every night.”
Mitzelfelt left office in December after six years as Supervisor of the nation’s largest county district when an unsuccessful bid for the new 8th Congressional District seat forced the Supervisor to forego re-election. The Congressional election was eventually won by Rep. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley. Mitzelfelt was replaced on the Board of Supervisors by Robert Lovingood.
Mitzelfelt was elected in 2008 after being appointed the previous year to fill the vacancy created by the election of his predecessor to another office. He was previously a county and state legislative aide and a Building Industry Association executive. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 through 1991.
Mitzelfelt counts among his accomplishments expediting the state’s largest county jail expansion in Adelanto, bringing a Public Safety Operations Center to Hesperia, and improving transportation and other infrastructure. He also helped establish Victor Valley College’s School of Aviation Technology at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville.
Looking forward to starting his new position in the energy industry next week, Mitzelfelt said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve in county government.
“I enjoyed representing the High Desert and San Bernardino County’s citizens,” he said, “and those communities will always be able to count me as a friend, supporter and true believer in the great potential of the area.”