Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was elected to the State Senate in 2002 and represents the 4th Senate District covering 12 Northern California Counties. He previously served two terms in the 3rd Assembly District before his successful campaign for the Senate in 2002. Senator Aanestad and his wife, Susan, have lived in Grass Valley since 1980 and have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Senator Aanestad serves as the conservative and experienced voice in the State Legislature and has never once voted for any tax increase. He was just recently named “Most Conservative Legislator” by Capitol Weekly and regularly receives 100% rankings from the California Chamber of Commerce for his staunch defense of small business interests. He has also received an “A” Grade from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association for his support of taxpayers everywhere.

Senator Aanestad served as the primary author for the Governor’s ambitious water bond proposal during the 2005-2006 Senate Legislative Session, a bill that eventually appeared on the November, 2006 ballot, gaining nearly 65% of the vote. The Senator’s work on Proposition 1E, the Disaster Preparedness & Flood Prevention Act of 2006, guaranteed that bond funding would be spent on real “rock, sand and concrete” projects that protect against flooding in Northern California, while delivering a fresh, clean and reliable supply of water for Southern California. Senator Aanestad was also named 2006 California Charter School Legislator of the Year by the California Charter Schools Association for successful legislative efforts that benefited Charter Schools.

Senator Aanestad is also the author of the Rural Sheriff’s Department Block Grant Funding Program, which has provided rural law enforcement agencies with millions in additional funding.

Dr. Aanestad has practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery full-time in Grass Valley, and has served as the Vice-Chief of Surgery at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. He served three terms on the California Dental Association Council on Legislation, including three years as Chairman, and he served two terms as President of the Butte-Sierra District Dental Society. He is also a member of the California and American Dental Associations.

Dr. Aanestad served 11 years on the Grass Valley School District Board of Trustees, where he fought for greater local control and smaller class sizes. He has been very involved within his community as a member of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley, a youth soccer, football, and baseball coach, and as a member of the KNCO radio broadcast team for Nevada Union High School football.

Senator Aanestad received both his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles. He then completed a four-year Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency at Highland Hospital in Oakland. Dr. Aanestad received a Master in Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University in 1991. He was honored by the UCLA School of Dentistry as their "Alumnus of the Year" in November 1998.

In the California State Senate, Dr. Aanestad's top priorities are new job and business creation in Northern California, preserving rural health care, protecting north state water, and serving the needs of the citizens of the 4th Senate District, which includes Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity and Yuba Counties.