Stephen Peace

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J. Stephen "Steve" Peace (March 30, 1953–) is a film writer and producer, and a US Democratic politician from California.

Peace was born 1953 in San Diego, California. His few film credits include the famous cult-movies in the parody Killer Tomatoes series (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!, Return of the Killer Tomatoes!, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back, and Killer Tomatoes Eat France! (under the name J. Stephen "Rock" Peace). He acted in the first 3, wrote the two first and the final film, and produced all 4. He is also not as famous for doing all 3 aforementioned jobs in unrelated film Happy Hour AKA Sour Grapes.

Peace got his start in politics as a protégé of Assemblyman Larry Kapiloff. Peace served in the California State Assembly from 1982–1992 and the California Senate from 1993–2002. During his term, Peace was known as one of the brightest and most politically savvy senators in Sacremento. He wrote the electricity deregulation bill that resulted in the California electricity crisis of 2000 and 2001. The "Steve Peace Death March", as it was known, caused many legislators to switch their votes to support deregulation, and he took credit for being "the father of deregulation" until the electricity crisis occurred. [1] After the crisis occurred, he disclaimed his role in deregulation. However, it was enough to cause him to abandon a proposed run for California Secretary of State. Since the fall of ENRON, Peace has been vindicated for his efforts during the deregulation crisis, as taking steps to save California from losing federal funds. [2]

After being term limited out of the assembly he was appointed Director of the California Department of Finance (a non-elective administrative post) by then governor Gray Davis. After a relatively short time in this office he was replaced after Davis's recall by Davis's successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Peace is currently a lobbyist for the San Diego Padres and formidable member of the San Diego political community.