Steve is a small business owner, community leader, and father.

Steve learned from a young age that nothing comes without hard work. Growing up, he worked after school at his parents' store in Stockton. Working there sparked his entrepreneurial spirit, and before long he was delivering The Record on his own paper route and bussing tables in his “free time”. He liked paying his own way. He still does. And he appreciates the value of a dollar, his or yours.

After graduating from Stagg High School, Steve attended San Joaquin Delta College, and then transferred to Chico State, where he worked for a local nightclub as a doorman. During the day he listened to the local business owners complain about unfair treatment by the local city council. Looking into it, Steve thought they were right, and organized students to replace four of the council people with small business owners.

Steve realized that he liked politics, and dove in. He commuted back to Stockton to work for a local Supervisor, and after graduating took a job for Congressman Richard Pombo where he rose to the position of Chief of Staff and Staff Director of the powerful Resources Committee, which oversaw the federal water resources that are vital for our community. He knows the ins and outs of government - but more important knows that government should be there to do the basic jobs we pay them to do… that government works for us, we don't work for them.

In 2010, Steve bought the historic Woodbridge Crossing restaurant and worked hard on his own dime to restore it and keep it a local tradition. The restaurant flourished and won awards for excellence, in part because Steve made it his business to meet customers, find out what they liked and didn't, and learn from his mistakes. He's not afraid to admit when he's wrong, and he doesn't hesitate to step up and fix problems.

Steve serves on the Executive Board of the Lodi Boys & Girls Club and is a member of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, Lodi Chamber of Commerce, and The California Restaurant Association. Steve was named Businessman of the Year both locally and by the California State Senate for his service to the local community. He is blessed to work at Woodbridge Crossing with his two sons, Steven Jr. and Connor, every day of the week.

In November 2022, Steve was elected to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, District 4.

$12.4M Invested in District 4 completed and planned road and bridge improvement projects in 2023

$21.2M Planned road and bridge improvement projects for 2024

December 12, 2023 - The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors announced the appointment of retired Lodi Police Chief Sierra Brucia as the new Office of Emergency Services Director. Brucia comes to the county after a nearly 30 Year Career with the Lodi Police Department marked by Outstanding Leadership, Academic Excellence and Distinguished Achievements. His Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic Ensured Community Safety Without the Use of Force or Arrests in 19 Protests and Demonstrations, improvements to the Lodi Police Department that included Formalized Mentoring, Increased Staffing at the Sworn and Professional Ranks, the Addition of a New Computer Aided Dispatch System, the Upgraded Gun Range and the Creation of an Employee Wellness Program.

November 28, 2023 - The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors created a new standing committee on homelessness to address the ongoing crisis in the county and its communities. The committee will be comprised of city and county representatives to provide leadership, recommendations, and policy directives to better coordinate services which best positions the County and its partners to not only offer housing solutions but include enforcement actions and whole person care to ensure that the results are lasting.

November 28, 2023 - The Board of Supervisors adopted a position in unanimous support of H.R. 1201, Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act. H.R. 1201 would remove the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) exclusion for treatment of adults with severe mental illness. Under this rule, current Medicaid payments to states are prohibited for non-geriatric adults receiving psychiatric care in a treatment facility with more than 16 beds. San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services had operated a 40-bed Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) for several years that did not qualify for Medicaid payments because it exceeded the Federal 16-bed limit, known as the Institute for Mental Disease Exclusion. The PHF reconfigured its bed capacity to meet the 16-bed limit, however, this size is not adequate for current needs, nor will it be for future projected needs and demand.

October 26, 2023 -San Joaquin County Supervisor Steve Ding and San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow accepted a $40,000 grant from AT&T to purchase technology to assist in putting an end to copper wire theft in San Joaquin County. Since April when we announced a $5,000 reward from AT&T for specific and detailed information about copper cable thefts or the attempted sale or purchase of stolen copper cable from AT&T in San Joaquin County, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Community Revitalization Unit (CRU) has been diligently working to bring those responsible for the theft of AT&T telecommunications lines to justice. Already this year, 29 individuals have been identified and arrested for their role in the destruction of the County's critical infrastructure of copper wire and fiber optic cables.

October 24, 2023 - The Parkin Memorial Park was awarded $10,000 in county funds for new playground equipment as part of its 50th anniversary commemoration, remembering the Parkin family, who was senselessly murdered in 1973.

October 10, 2023 - Led by Supervisor Ding, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting Climate-Smart Agriculture practices. San Joaquin County is home to approximately 3,400 farms with 180,000 jobs, generating at least $3.1 billion in economic activity per year. Through innovation and hard work, San Joaquin County farm families continue to work to meet the state's ambitious climate and environmental goals including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, renewable energy production and utilization, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, carbon sequestration, increased water-use efficiency, and improved water quality. Continued support of local and state incentive programs that sustain the vitality of the agriculture sector in the county is critical. Efforts to preclude incentives for dairy, livestock and agricultural climate-smart practices, including ongoing efforts at the Air Resources Board to preclude dairies from the LCFS program, are short-sighted and run counter to the health and economic well-being of our residents and communities.

October 10, 2023 - Led by Supervisor Ding, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors rejected the Voter's Choice Act (VCA), which sought to eliminate the popular hybrid model of voting centers and local polling places San Joaquin County currently uses.

September 19, 2023 - Led by San Joaquin County Board Chairman Rickman (D5), the State of the County was brought to the people and held for the first time outside the Board Chambers in the City of Tracy. You can view the event here.

August 31, 2023 - San Joaquin County Sheriff Withrow and the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors broke ground on the $36M sheriff's Detention and Program Facility ten years in the making. The facility will include 256 beds, a medical clinic and a 12 person single-story mental health unit. Expected completions is Dec. 2024.

August 22, 2023 - The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors renamed Oak Grove Regional Park Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park. Former Congressman and San Joaquin County Supervisor Norm Shumway was a pioneer in his time and had the foresight to preserve the county's majestic oak trees.

August 9, 2023 - The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved $52.8 million from two national opioid group settlements due to overdoses and over prescription of drugs for a One Stop Shop to get Addicts and Mentally Ill off the streets. The San Joaquin County Be Well Campus will include a new or expanded substance use disorder (SUD) treatment infrastructure and a Second 16-Bed Medi-Cal Billable Acute Psychiatric Health Facility.

August 8, 2023 - The re-established Morada Municipal Advisory Council held its first meeting after several years. June 20, 2023 - The Clements Glen View Veterans Cemetery was awarded $102,000 in county funds to install security fencing around the property and to purchase a tractor to assist in the maintenance of the property.

June 20, 2023 - Micke Grove is coming back to life. The Board of Supervisors approved $1.3M to build an 18-hole miniature golf course at the former site of the once thriving Fun Town. And, on Supervisor Ding's request, a $1.6M match was added to the 2023-2024 budget to help fund the future $3.2M San Joaquin County Historical Museum Pioneer Village project. Phase I of the Micke Grove Regional Park and Zoo tie-in to the City of Lodi water and sewer utility service was also funded.

June 6th, 2023 - The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 contribution toward the addition of a Shade Structure at the City of Stockton Animal Shelter on the condition of equal matching funds from the City of Stockton.

June 6th, 2023 - Led by Supervisor Ding, the Board of Supervisors defeated an effort by Supervisor Canepa to Fly the Commemorative Pride Flag for Five Consecutive Business Days During Pride Month, June 2023. The item required a 4/5ths Vote for Passage and was defeated by a vote of 3-2 with Supervisor Ding and Supervisor Patti dissenting. This battle was fought and won 210 years ago at the Battle of Fort McHenry. The valiant defense of the fort during the Battle of Baltimore on September 13-14, 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that became the U.S. National Anthem as the American Flag arose at dawn. The American Flag is the symbol of light and hope, the symbol of unity and inclusion. The American Flag represents everyone.

May 23, 2023 - Led by Supervisor Ding, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved $184,000 for capital improvements and restorations at the Clements School Community Center (CSCC). The Clements community has worked diligently for the past twelve years to secure the old Clements School from Lodi Unified School District and transform it into the Clements School Community Center (CSCC) for the benefit of residents of the Clements area. “Clements in a sense is building their own city hall,” said Supervisor Steve Ding. “I commend the Clements community for their work to improve the safety and security of its residents.”

May 17th, 2023 - The re-established Linden Municipal Advisory Council held its first meeting after several years.

May 4th, 2023 - Held town hall for Acampo Residents that were impacted by the storms of 2023. Supervisor Ding led the charge for San Joaquin County to be added to the Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance which opened the door for individuals to submit applications to FEMA for financial help for flood related damages.

May 3rd, 2023 - Spearheaded by Supervisor Ding, one of the first actions for the restructure/reorganization of OES, a countywide emergency response training was held at the Robert J. Cabral Ag Center. The training was led by Gerald Simon VP, Chief Safety, Security & Emergency Preparedness Officer for California Water Service Group and covered all aspects of emergency response in compliance with Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Incident Command System (ICS) guidelines.

May 2nd, 2023 - To further meet the needs of military and student veterans and their families, the Board of Supervisors approved $2M from the American Rescue Plan Act Fund for on-campus housing at the University of the Pacific. Veterans are one of the fastest growing student populations at UOP. In the past five years, the enrolled military and student veteran population has increased by 340% from 20 students in the 2017 school year to Second Supervisorial District 106 in 2022, with enrollment projected to increase to 300 in the next three years. These students are primarily from San Joaquin County.

April 26, 2023 - Supervisor Ding spearheaded the partnership with AT&T to raise awareness about the unprecedented number of copper wire thefts in District 4 and to announce a $5,000 reward for anyone providing information about the perpetrators. San Joaquin County is ground zero for copper cable theft and fiber damage. Under Supervisor Ding's leadership, there have been 12 arrests by the Sheriff's Dept. and over 3,700 pounds of recovered copper wire.

April 11, 2023 - Supervisor Ding re-established the Election Advisory Committee (EAC). The EAC will provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters office to address the public's perception of the integrity of the electoral process and to increase voter confidence, public trust and overall voter engagement in the County. It will also provide a platform for voters to receive information, ask questions and raise concerns about the electoral process. Current election law will also be reviewed.

March 28th, 2023 - After the historical rain events, Supervisor Ding saw the need to make the Office of Emergency Services (OES) a stand alone department under the Board of Supervisors, an action approved by a 5-0 vote of the Board of Supervisors. OES is the key disaster preparedness office of the County and has direct responsibility to support and coordinate the efforts of County departments carrying out their functions in the field. OES has played a pivotal role in the drought emergency, COVID-19, and the unprecedented atmospheric rains which has caused severe flooding in the County.

March 22, 2023 - As a member of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board, Supervisor Ding voted for a $2.5 million investment that will pave the way to bring a world-class water sports facility to the city of Stockton, bolstering recreation and tourism opportunities in the community. The Delta Aquatics Center or the Americans with Disabilities Act-friendly water sports facility, expected to cost a total of $15 million, will allow people to access some of the nearly 700 miles of waterways surrounding Stockton using small, human-powered watercraft.

January 24, 2023 - Supervisor Ding's first action brought to and approved by the Board of Supervisors was to dedicate two human resources officers to the Sheriff's office to expedite the hiring and onboarding of law enforcement to keep our communities safe. The Sheriff estimates this will cut 8-10 weeks off the hiring process.

Bringing Government to the People. The Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk plans to open satellite offices in the next 2 years in locations that will be beneficial for the public. The goal is to provide full Recorder/Clerk services to the citizens in their own jurisdictions that they reside in. This will result in time and money savings for the public as we are always striving to deliver excellent customer service.

Supervisor Ding is a member of the five county Delta Counties Coalition, a consortium of five Delta Counties, including Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo, that works to give one voice to the Delta, advocating on behalf of local government and the 4 million people throughout the Delta region. The Delta Counties Coalition advocates for the implementation of storage options, sustainable groundwater management and conjunctive use, conservation, recycling, reuse, and regional self-sufficiency as part of an improved statewide flood management and water supply system, which will reduce reliance on the Delta as called for in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009.