Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician and lawyer, presently serving as 39th Governor of California since January 3, 2011. Brown, a Democrat, was first elected as Governor in January 1975 when he succeeded Ronald Reagan to become the 34th Governor of California. At that time, aged 36, he became the youngest Governor of California in 111 years. He served the position for consecutive second term from 1979 to 1983. As governor he concentrated on fiscal severity, prevention of criminal activities and issues related to environment encompassing conservation of coastal land of the state and alternative energy technologies. Scion of the 32nd Governor of California Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, Sr., Brown made his debut in politics in the late 1960s as a Board of Trustees member of ‘Los Angeles Community College’. Thereafter he held several significant positions serving as Secretary of State of California from January 1971 to 1975; Chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1989 to 1991; Mayor of Oakland from January 1999 to January 2007; and Attorney General of California from January 2007 to January 2011. He also remained a Democratic Party nominated candidate for the Presidential elections held in 1976, 1980 and 1992. He took a political sabbatical of six years in the 1980s during which time he travelled to Japan and Mexico and also worked with Mother Teresa in Kolkata, India. At present he is the oldest governor of California in its history.