John B. Pelletier

John B. Pelletier
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 44th district
In office
January 7, 1935 - November 29, 1946
Preceded byClare Woolwine
Succeeded byEdward E. Elliott
Personal details
Born(1884-09-22)September 22, 1884
Quebec, Canada
DiedNovember 29, 1946(1946-11-29) (aged 62)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationRicker Classical Institute
Bates College
Boston University School of Law
Institute for Religious Science and Philosophy

John B. Pelletier (born September 22, 1884 - November 29, 1946) was a Canadian-born[1] American politician who served in the California State Assembly for the 44th district from 1935 to 1946.[2] He immigrated to the United States in 1895.[3]

Pelletier is notable for the fact that, in 1934, he was a "bum" on Skid Row in Los Angeles when master lobbyist Arthur Samish cleaned him up and successfully ran him for the State Assembly.[4] He was one of two dozen "EPIC Democrats" elected to the state legislature in 1934.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Vassar, Alexander C. (2011). Legislators of California (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "Join California - John B. Pelletier". joincalifornia.com.
  3. ^ Jordan, Frank C. (1942). California Blue Book, 1942. Sacramento: California State Printing Office. p. 67. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  4. ^ Samish, Arthur H.; Thomas, Bob (1971). The Secret Boss of California: The Life and High Times of Art Samish. New York: Crown Publishers.
  5. ^ "Olson Wins Over Cobb in State Senate Race, but G.O.P. Majority Assured". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. November 8, 1934. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Mitchell, Greg (1992). The Campaign of the Century. New York: Random House. p. 545–546.