Nick Schultz

Nick Schultz was born in California. Schultz earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in 2010 and a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2013. His career experience includes serving as a deputy attorney general and state legislator.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Nick Schultz was elected to the Burbank City Council in 2020, after receiving the second highest number of votes in the city's history for a city council race. In his race he earned strong support from organized labor, including the full support of the Burbank Firefighters.

In his time as a Councilmember and Mayor, Nick has played a key role in passing the city’s most robust greenhouse gas reduction plan, outlining a path to carbon neutrality for the city; helped implement policies that used resources and treatment to humanely reduce the city’s homeless population by 10%, and was able to help reduce crime by 10%. As a staunch advocate for housing affordability, Nick voted for more than 1,000 new units of housing in Burbank, including creating more housing for low and very low income Californians than had been created over the last ten years. Nick currently serves as a Deputy Attorney General with the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office with the California Department of Justice, where he works with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute criminal cases primarily related to public corruption, officer involved shootings, human trafficking, mortgage fraud, tax evasion, and other forms of financial fraud.

Nick was elected to the California State Assembly in 2024. He and his wife, Allie, an attorney in the entertainment industry, reside in the historic Rancho neighborhood of Burbank.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT - Nick believes that every Californian has a fundamental right to clean air, clean water, and to be free from toxic substances. As an Assemblymember, Nick has pursued aggressive action to address the climate crisis and will support environmental policies that are effective and equitable for all Californians.HOUSING AFFORDABILITY - Nick has taken strong and decisive action to reduce the costs of housing. As a Councilmember, Nick has taken bold steps to address his city's housing shortage. He is committed to protecting renters and increasing housing opportunities for all.ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY - In one of the world's largest economies, Nick believes far too many Californians are left behind. Nick is working to raise wages, address deep poverty, encourage investment in emerging technology, support organized labor, and explore new incentives for entrepreneurship.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Environment & Sustainability, Housing Affordability, Reducing Homelessness, Criminal Justice Reform, Universal Healthcare, Economic Development, Wildfire Protections, Public Education Funding and Expansion, Investing in Mass Transportation and Active Transit.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff

Congressmember Luz Rivas

Congressmember Laura Friedman

Congressmember Brad Sherman

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber

California Attorney General Rob Bonta

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath

Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi

Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian

Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez

Glendale Unified School District Board President Ingrid Gunnell

California Democratic Party

California YIMBY

California Legislative Progressive Caucus

California Professional Firefighters

California Teachers Association

Jane Fonda Climate PAC

California Labor Federation

Planned Parenthood

SEIU California

Sierra Club of California

Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley

Working Families Party

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Nick Schultz was elected to the Burbank City Council in 2020, after receiving the second highest number of votes in the city's history for a city council race. In his race he earned strong support from organized labor, including the full support of the Burbank Firefighters.

In his time as a Councilmember and Mayor, Nick has played a key role in passing the city’s most robust greenhouse gas reduction plan, outlining a path to carbon neutrality for the city; helped implement policies that used resources and treatment to humanely reduce the city’s homeless population by 10%, and was able to help reduce crime by 10%.

As a staunch advocate for housing affordability, Nick voted for more than 1,000 new units of housing in Burbank, including creating more housing for low and very low income Californians than had been created over the last ten years.

Nick currently serves as a Deputy Attorney General with the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office with the California Department of Justice, where he works with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute criminal cases primarily related to public corruption, officer involved shootings, human trafficking, mortgage fraud, tax evasion, and other forms of financial fraud.

Nick, and his wife Allie, an attorney in the entertainment industry, reside in the historic Rancho neighborhood of Burbank.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT - Nick believes that every Californian has a fundamental right to clean air, clean water, and to be free from toxic substances. As an Assemblymember, Nick will take aggressive action to address the climate crisis and will pursue environmental policies that are effective and equitable for all Californians.HOUSING AFFORDABILITY - Nick is ready to take strong and decisive action to reduce the costs of housing. As a Councilmember, Nick has taken bold steps to address his city's housing shortage. He is committed to protecting renters and increasing housing opportunities for all.ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY - In one of the world's largest economies, Nick believes far too many Californians are left behind. Nick will work to raise wages, address deep poverty, encourage investment in emerging technology, support organized labor, and explore new incentives for entrepreneurship.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Environment & Sustainability, Housing Affordability, Reducing Homelessness, Criminal Justice Reform, Universal Healthcare, Economic Development, Wildfire Protections, Public Education Funding and Expansion, Investing in Mass Transportation and Active Transit.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The West Wing.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should act at all times with integrity, honesty, compassion, and a willingness to hear every perspective and solve problems for the community they represent.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The responsibility of an Assemblymember is to be accessible, responsive, and accountable to the constituency of their district. Moreover, an Assemblymember must work proactively and creatively to pass the state’s budget and introduce/support legislation that improves quality of life for all Californians.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave my time in the Legislature knowing that I meaningfully improved the lives of Californians and the people of the 44th Assembly District.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The legislature and Governor should always be partners - not partners that agree 100% but partners who share a common goal of actually improving the lives of Californians.

To me, a good Governor is a steward of policy, providing resources and direction on proposed legislation while the Legislature serves as the idea factory having bold, big, conversations about.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

First and foremost, we are facing a severe affordability crisis driven by stagnant wages and rising rent/home prices. This has produced a growing socioeconomic disparity that is crushing the middle class and working people across the state. I believe in working to achieve the following priorities to the people of the 44th Assembly District, and the entire State of California:

Housing Affordability - I’m ready to take strong and decisive action to reduce the costs of housing. As a Councilmember, I have taken bold steps to address his city's housing shortage. I am committed to protecting renters and increasing housing opportunities for all.

Economic Opportunity - I will also work to raise wages, address deep poverty, encourage investment in emerging technology, support organized labor, and explore new incentives for entrepreneurship.

Caring For Californians - I will fight for universal healthcare & world class education systems for all Californians. In the Legislature, I will support policies that expand access to quality education and ensure universal coverage for all who call our state home.

Protecting Our Environment - I believe that every Californian has a fundamental right to clean air, clean water, and to be free from toxic substances. As an Assemblymember, I will take decisive action to address the climate crisis and will pursue environmental policies that are effective and equitable for all Californians.

Criminal Justice Reform - I will pursue legislation that prevents crime, addresses systemic injustices, and promotes rehabilitation and equity in our criminal justice system.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Since first being elected to serve on the Burbank City Council in 2020, I’ve played a key role in passing the city’s most robust greenhouse gas reduction plan, outlining a path to carbon neutrality for the city; helped implement policies that used resources and treatment to humanely reduce the city’s homeless population by nearly 10%, and was able to help reduce several categories of crime while re-allocating $2 million from the police budget to other city services.

Elected during the height of the pandemic, I worked to protect the public health of our community and helped ensure proper PPE supplies for our workers and the public; passed landmark “Hero Pay” legislation, in close partnership with organized labor, requiring that frontline grocery workers received fair compensation for putting their lives at risk during a public health crisis; and worked with my colleagues and the city to provide over $1,000,000 in aid to our tenants and businesses.

I have helped bring major progressive change to a historically conservative city as a young Democrat.

As a Deputy Attorney General, I have been a progressive prosecutor. I helped lead the charge to create the first-of-its-kind Post-Conviction Review Unit at the Department of Justice, which will review claims of innocence and wrongful conviction for any cases handled by the State. This will be the first time individuals making claims of wrongful convictions will be able to have their voices heard.

I believe that my lived experiences have prepared me to not only be an effective progressive advocate, but also an effective legislator. I will work with my colleagues to tackle the big issues and deliver results for my district and all of California.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, absolutely. In the Legislature you are only one of 80 Assemblymembers and 40 Senators. You cannot be effective and deliver results for your constituents without having a good working relationship with your colleagues. As a Councilmember, I’ve relied on my relationship and trust of my council colleagues to pass major policies that have directly benefited our residents.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I will endeavor to represent the 44th Assembly Districr with the same level of policy expertise, accessibility to constituents, and commitment to consensus building as my friend and mentor, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, who has endorsed me to succeed her in the California State Assembly.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. At the moment I cannot see beyond my prospective service in the state legislature. There is far too much work to get done in Sacramento to worry about running for another office.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

In early 2023, Burbank City Hall was visited by dozens of tenants of a local apartment complex that was recently purchased by an out of town company. Many of the residents were senior citizens and/or on fixed incomes. They were facing eviction as the new owner sought to substantially remodel the property.

I distinctly remember a young mother who came to City Hall. She brought her daughter. I could see and feel her fear and anxiety as she worried about where theyd soon sleep at night. That story still haunts me to this day.

Shortly thereafter, I proposed the allocation of over $500,000 in city funds to keep tenants housed and provide displacement assistance to tenants facing evictions. Subsequently, my colleagues and I are working on codifying an ordinance that closed the renoviction loop hole in AB 1482 and expanding relocation assistance to three months of fair market rent.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Emergency powers are a key function of the executive branch, allowing the Governor and their Administration to respond quickly to crises. The Legislature is designed to move slower; therefore, the legislature having big and contested conversations on behalf of the people is not necessarily in a position to respond to immediate emergencies that require government action. However, the legislature should always exercise its power of oversight of activities and decisions made by the executive branch.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I would introduce or support an existing effort to achieve universal healthcare coverage through a single payer program. If elected, I will fight for universal healthcare and work tirelessly to eliminate healthcare service “islands” across the state. I would supplement my “healthcare agenda” by revising state law to ensure that pregnancy is a qualifying event to obtain or change your health insurance coverage. I would also push for full wage replacement for those on parental leave. I view these family-friendly policies as compatible and supplemental to the goals of universal healthcare coverage.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Assemblymember Laura Friedman; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Los Angeles Area Locals; SEIU California; Southwest Regional Council for Carpenters; United Auto Workers; Abundant Housing Los Angeles; Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County; Americans for Democratic Action, Southern California Chapter; Avance Democratic Club; Burbank Democratic Club; California High School Democrats; California Legislative Progressive Caucus; California Democratic Renters Council; California Environmental Voters; California YIMBY; Climate Action California; Consumer Attorneys of California; Democrats for Israel Los Angeles; Democrats for the Protection of Animals; Glendale Democratic Club; Healthcare for All California; and more.

What committees interest you?

Natural Resources; Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism; Judiciary; Public Safety; Higher Education; Housing and Community Development; Local Government; Utilities and Energy; Health; Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe that government should endeavor to live within its means, and always maintain transparency and accountability to the taxpayers.

I am proud to say that I inherited a city budget with a recurring general fund deficit in 2020, but was able to turn the deficit into a recurring surplus in a little Less than two years. Given the forecasted state budget deficit, I believe that my experience managing a large city budget to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and turning a deficit to a surplus, will be very valuable experience in our state capital.