Ken Arnold - Short Biography

Ken Arnold

I, Kenneth (Ken) Arnold, am a native southern Californian and have resided in Orange County over 45 years. I raised my two sons, Christopher, 30, and Matthew, 28, here where they attended the public schools. With my wife, Thanh-Thanh T. Ho, I currently reside and am a homeowner in Fountain Valley.

I have a successful career as a business information systems analyst, where I am recognized as a real problem solver, a quick learner that can see the larger picture without losing track of the details, and one that quickly gets to the essence of the issue or problem. I have helped many dozens of companies, from some our county’s smallest employers to Fortune 100 firms, improve their processes and profitability. During much of my career I personally designed, programmed and/or implemented complex computer software.

I was blessed with high intelligence and with a mother that instilled in me an appreciation for the diversity of knowledge and skills of the great artists and thinkers of the renaissance and of the age of enlightenment. That along with the many great teachers and mentors that I have had, my strong curiosity and a life long desire to learn, has left me very knowledgeable in many different fields. I will be able to bring to the Assembly not only my understanding of and knowledge in many branches of science, but perspectives and understanding from studies in economics, history, philosophy, geography, religions, and other fields. All this, plus my life experiences, and compassion balanced by practicality, reason and common sense, I believe will enable me to make very positive contributions to my district and state while serving in the state assembly.

My other interests too, have been diverse and I am or have been an amateur photographer, video-grapher, marathoner, tri-athlete, gardener, house renovator and painter, numismatist, scuba diver, securities analyst, financial planner, yogi, nutritionist, massage therapist, bowler, chess, volleyball and billiards player, computer builder, carpenter, electrician, hiker, mountain and rock climber, aquarium and terrarium keeper, jogger, cyclist, distance swimmer, trained mediator, silk-screener, landscaper, pressman, cook, and more.

I have been a freethinking progressive all of my life, with great concern for social justice and environmental protection and preservation. I have been a registered Democrat virtually all of my adult life. My first formal post-academic involvement in the political process was local work for the Dukakis campaign. As with many others, the 2000 Presidential selection and the many ensuing crimes against the Constitution, the rule of law, our country and all peoples has greatly increased my political and social involvement. As a computer scientist I have been interested and involved in electoral reform and issues around the integrity and auditability of our voting systems. I have been involved in the last two Congressional campaigns in my district and am most anxious to see Debbie Cook finally unseat Dana Rohrabacher. I am an immediate past vice-president of the Democratic Club of West Orange County and am an elected delegate to the State Party from my AD. I have assisted in many other campaigns, am well versed on many issues and am member and/or active supporter of many many other political, service and advocacy organizations.

I believe in much of the philosophy, goals and objectives of the Democratic Party and welcome, and am honored by, the opportunity to serve as its candidate for the 68th Assembly District of the State of California. However, if elected, my loyalties will not be to any party or ideology, but to my constituents, to common sense and reason, to justice and compassion, to my conscience and morals, and to what I truly believe is in the best interests of the United States and all its citizens.