Three Orange County civic leaders will be recognized March 7 at the Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History’s “Celebrating Orange County’s Political Legacy” dinner.
“These honorees were selected for their longtime public service to Orange County and the state of California in both elected and appointed roles,” said Natalie M. Fousekis, center director and professor of history. “Each tells a story about their path to crafting policy, serving the community, and in some cases, running for elected office.”
The center’s Orange County Politics Project began in 2013 and examines the history of local politics and politicians. There are 28 oral histories in the collection, including the 2024 honorees.
Bill Campbell, California State Assembly and Orange County Supervisor, retired
Bill Campbell grew up in Pico Rivera but has lived in Orange County for more than 50 years. His aunt instilled in him the value of public service and giving back, influencing his decision to run for elected office. He was a California assemblymember from 1996 to 2002, including serving as the Assembly Republican Leader in 2021. He was also a member of various committees, including the Committee on Appropriations, Banking and Finance and Education.
In 2003, he was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and worked to enhance the quality of life for residents. He was board chairman in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Before becoming an elected leader, Campbell was a successful businessman in the fast-food, aerospace and microelectronics industries and recently retired from the Providence St. Joseph Hospital of Orange Community Board. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Loyola Marymount University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Tom Daly, California State Assembly, retired
Anaheim native Tom Daly’s passion for local issues inspired him to run for school board in the mid-1980s. This public service led to nearly 40 years of serving in elected positions at the local, county and state levels. He served as a state assemblymember overseeing Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange and Garden Grove and as chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee. From 1992 to 2002, Daly was mayor of Anaheim and led significant public and private investments in the city, including expanding the resort area around Disneyland.
Daly also served on the Orange County Transportation Authority board of directors, where he helped oversee a $3 billion improvement program for road and transit projects. Most recently, he has provided consulting work related to the health care industry, including providing counsel to CalOptima Health, a nonprofit delivering mental health services, a COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University.
Lucy Dunn ’76 (B.A. political science), Orange County Business Council, chief executive officer emeritus
For 16 years, Cal State Fullerton alumna Lucy Dunn led the Orange County Business Council to ensure the region’s economic prosperity and high quality of life. She is an ex-officio business representative to the Southern California Association of Governments’ Regional Council, which addresses transportation, housing, air quality and other issues. In 2001, Dunn was elected the first woman president of the Building Industry Association of Southern California in its 80-year history. She was appointed in 2004 to serve as the director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development and, in 2008, to the California Transportation Commission.
Dunn serves as director or adviser for numerous nonprofit boards, including Homeful Foundation, Pacific Symphony, Orange County Human Relations and Jamboree Housing Corp. She serves as vice chair of the Orange Catholic Foundation board. Dunn has received numerous accolades, including the university’s Vision & Visionaries distinguished alumni award in 2007 and was named one of “Orange County’s 100 Most Influential” by the Orange County Register. She also was recognized by the Endangered Habitats League for protecting habitat and cultural resources. Dunn earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from CSUF and holds a law degree from Western State University College of Law.
The Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History was established in 1968 and houses the state’s largest regionally focused oral history archive. Driven by the work of Cal State Fullerton students, the center maintains more than 6,500 recorded interviews, transcripts, photographs and other materials.