Jerry Sampson Award
Jerry Sampson, z”l, was the founding advocate for the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California. He co-founded JPAC in 1972, making it the first statewide Jewish advocacy organization in the nation. Jerry served as the JPAC advocate in the State Capitol until his death in 1982. Though Jerry was known for being a tenacious advocate for public interests, representing clients like JPAC and the United Way, he was also admired from both sides of the aisle for his honesty and integrity.
The Jerry Sampson Award is awarded annually to a California State Legislator who embodies the spirit and dedication to good civic government that Jerry represented and whose leadership and advocacy on behalf of the organized Jewish community’s priority concerns have been exemplary.
Past Award Recipients
2023: The Hon. Toni Atkins (video)
2022: The Hon. Adrin Nazarian (video)
2019: The Hon. Marc Levine
2018: The Hon. Ben Allen
2017: The Hon. Holly Mitchell
2016: The Hon. Fran Pavley
2015: The Hon. Marty Block
2014: The Hon. Nancy Skinner
2013: The Hon. John A. Perez
2012: The Hon. Bob Blumenfield
2011: The Hon. Mike Feuer
2010: The Hon. Mark Leno
2009: The Hon. Karen Bass
2008: The Hon. John Laird
2007: The Hon. Lloyd Levine
2006: The Hon. Rebecca Cohn
2005: No award given
2004: The Hon. Darrell Steinberg
2003: The Hon. Marco Firebaugh
2002: The Hon. Kevin Shelley
2001: The Hon. Bob Hertzberg
2000: The Hon. John Burton