Rooted in Service
Joe Kerr grew up in a family that didn’t have much but gave everything they could to their country and their community. His mother, the daughter of Italian immigrants, and his father, the son of Irish immigrants and a Navy veteran who later became a federal firefighter, worked hard to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Money was often tight, but what they lacked in wealth they made up for in faith, pride, and a belief that success is measured by what you give back, not what you own.
That belief became a family tradition. Joe’s father spent his fire career on Marine bases after leaving the Navy. Both of Joe’s older brothers also enlisted in the Navy, one later serving a long career in local law enforcement.
Inspired by his family’s example, Joe was the next to answer the call to serve. He joined the fire service not for recognition, but because protecting others felt like the most meaningful way he could give back. What began as a job became a lifelong calling built on courage, compassion, and teamwork, values that still guide him today.
His youngest brother later enlisted in the Marine Corps and went on to become a California state firefighter, continuing the Kerr family’s proud tradition of service.
Continuing Record of Service
As President of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, Joe represented more than 1,200 firefighters and helped restore lost county funding, saving local jobs and improving public safety. He later served on statewide boards representing tens of thousands of first responders and earned a reputation for fairness, grit, and results.
Joe’s leadership extended beyond public safety. Appointed by Governors Gray Davis and Gavin Newsom, he helped shape California’s workforce development and water quality policies, tackling issues that affect families, businesses, and the environment. He also helped pioneer wildfire prevention technology with UC San Diego, using science and early detection to stop disasters before they start.
An Orange County Native
At home, Joe is a husband, father, and lifelong Californian. He and his wife, China, have been together for more than 33 years and live in Coto de Caza, where they raised their son, Joey. Their family’s IVF journey made reproductive freedom deeply personal and part of why Joe is determined to defend it in Congress.
After decades of public service, Joe is stepping up again to bring integrity, common sense, and real-world experience to Washington. To him, leadership means helping people, solving problems, and leaving things better than you found them.