Russ Hopkins (July 7, 2003)

CBS data:

Started at TV city on November 1968 retired in June 1991

Started as a cameraman, worked in Video Tape operations for many years, then back to the studio in 1986, worked on B and B as an A2 from 1989 until retirement in 1991.

Moved from Boston, Mass to Reseda in 1968 then to Simi Valley, and after 25 years in S.V. we 2000 moved to Moorpark where we presently reside. My old ham call is wb6ydz, but I am presently not operating.

Thanks again for your interest.

Russ Hopkins
District Representative
Senator Tom McClintock
19th Senate District
(805) 494-8808 

(Following is the Email I received from Russ in reply to my request for information)

My wife Millie and I are well and like all of us are getting older (74 last February).
We now have 17 grandchildren, with my youngest daughter Susan, contributing seven of  those precious  grandkids.

I opened a Photo studio in Chatsworth in 1991, the year I retired. It was quite successful, but a lot of work, and we sold it in 1995, made a modest profit and retired again.
I became involved in grass-roots politics and was eventually elected president of the Ventura County branch of the California Republican Assembly.I am a very active Republican and am now serving my third term as a state delegate to the California Republican Party. I realize I am probably in the minority as most of those I worked with at CBS were Democrats.
 
In 1998 then Assemblyman Tom McClintock invited me to leave retirement and join his staff. Tom is now the state senator from the 19th district, covering part of the San Fernando Valley, most of Ventura County and all of Santa Barbara County. I am in my 5th year with the senator and serve as his district representative for Ventura County. It is a busy job representing Tom at the various functions and events, as he is not in the district as often as he would like. There is so much happening in Sacramento that it keeps him up there much of the time. Senator McClintock has introduced an initiative to repeal the onerous car tax (VLF fee) which the governor just tripled. Hopefully we will receive enough signatures to put this on the ballot.
If  the recall is successful, Tom is often mentioned as a candidate for governor to replace Davis, so who knows what the future holds..

I hope this finds you in good health.
Our office is in Thousand Oaks, please call me and I will buy you lunch.

Russ