Assembly member Brian Nestande, the freshman Assembly member representing the 64th District, a graduate of California State University Fullerton with a degree in Political Science, began his professional career working as a field representative for Congressman Michael Huffington. His father, Bruce served in the legislature from 1974-80 representing Orange County.

In 1994, he managed Sonny Bono's successful congressional campaign and subsequently served as his Chief of Staff in Washington D.C. He then helped Mr. Bono’s widow, Mary Bono succeed her husband in the House of Representatives. He served as her Chief of Staff until 2000 when he left to work on John McCain’s campaign for President, serving as his California director. He then subsequently started a government affairs business located in Palm Desert.

As a part of his campaign for Assembly, he listed immigration, transportation, excessive state spending and education as being his four legislative priorities. He is serving as the vice-chair of Assembly Education, and also serves on the Aging and Long Term Care Committee, Government Organization Committee, Budget Committee and PERS&S Committee.

He has authored 17 measures, including a special session measure, a constitutional amendment and a resolution that would limit the number of bills a member of the Assembly could introduce to only 30 a session (the limit is currently set at 40).

He introduced three measures that are specific to the University of California only. AB 649, which would put into a place a more timely process for resolving "change order" disputes between the University of California and private contractors. This measure is currently in the possession of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 1180 would require the regents to submit a report to the Legislature describing expenditures on compensation packages and retirement benefits for employees and officers of the university and identifying the sources of funds for those expenditures. This measure is now a two-year bill.

Finally ACA 17 would prohibit any employee of the University of California (UC) who receives any financial benefit greater than $50,000 as part of a temporary voluntary separation program, as defined, from UC from being employed by, or entering into a personal services contract with, UC in any compensated capacity, unless that person returns the entire financial benefit, as defined, to UC. This measure passed out of Assembly Higher Education on an 8-1 vote and is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Assemblyman Nestande resides in Palm Desert with his wife Gina and their seven children.