He attended
San Jose State University, from which he earned a business degree. Baker served as a member of the
United States Coast Guard reserve from 1957 to 1965. After graduating from college, Baker worked as a budget analyst for a large financial corporation. He then took a similar job with the
California Department of Finance, which he held for four years.
State assembly Baker worked as the vice president of a Taxpayers Association until he successfully ran for a seat in the
California State Assembly as a
Republican in 1980. He served six terms in a district that included portions of
Contra Costa and
Alameda Counties.
Congress In 1992, Baker ran for Congress and served two terms in the House before losing reelection in 1996 to
Ellen Tauscher. Baker was a political conservative.
After Congress After leaving Congress, Baker returned to the field of finance, and was a partner in the Baker, Brose & Mitsutome investment management firm. ==Electoral history==