One of the San Gabriel Valley’s most powerful political couples is State Senator Bob and Mei Mei Huff. The “House of Huff” represents the culmination of luck, tenacity and a lot of hard work. Together, they have influenced education, transportation and environmental policies which potentially spur economic growth for the whole state. Their story is why they are this Business Journal’s first San Gabriel Valley Decision Makers.

To best summarize the Huffs, you have to go to the matriarch, Mei Mei Huff herself. “We are put on this earth for a reason. I believe that Bob’s gifts make him suited for public service,” Mei Mei says, “and I am here to make sure he succeeds.” It is through this mindset we have seen the Huffs rise to become one of the San Gabriel Valley decision makers.

Senator Huff started his road towards public service by chance when he was representing his church during a permitting process in the city of Diamond Bar. The leadership of the city was so impressed by citizen Huff that they encouraged him to join the Planning Commission which then led to a successful campaign onto the city council.

Mei Mei Ho is a licensed CPA who has worked for one of the big five accounting firms before launching her own practice. Mei Mei, though, was always interested in public service and even attempted an unsuccessful city council race for the city of Walnut in 1993. Since then, Mei Mei has retired from the accounting world. She now runs her strategic planning business, including clients like Majestic Realty, who proposes to build a 75,000 seat football stadium in Industry.

It was when they were married did they manage one of the biggest Assembly upsets when Bob ran against Gayle Pacheco, wife of the then-incumbent Bob Pacheco. Though Huff’s opponent was well-funded and heavily-endorsed, he did have a key advantage, his wife Mei Mei.

Mei Mei served as Bob’s chief fundraiser and campaign director. She implemented the strategy that helped Bob overcome the incumbent’s machine. “One of my fundraisers for Bob had over 700 people here,” Mei Mei stated. By election night, thanks to Mei Mei’s efforts, Bob Huff soundly defeated Gayle Pacheco 41% to 36%.

Since becoming a state legislator, Bob Huff has moved quickly up the Republican leadership, from being elected to the State Senate in 2008 and now services as the Republican Senate Conference Chair. He has also co-authored important education and transportation bills which have garnered some bi-partisan support.

Mei Mei, meanwhile, continues her business helping her clients with strategic planning, including Majestic’s Pacific Palms Hotel. She was also on the team that helped Majestic earn an unprecedented CEQA, or environmental regulations, waiver for the potential football stadium site.

Together Bob and Mei Mei Huff have shaped not just our region but our state as a whole. From reforming teacher tenure to returning football to Los Angeles, the Huffs have influenced these important choices. This is why they are part of our club of San Gabriel Valley Decision Makers.