Meet Philip Stemler
Newport Beach Native
Philip Stemler is a husband, father, and public corruption prosecutor born and raised in Newport Beach.
A graduate of Eastbluff Elementary, Harbor View Elementary, Harbor Day, and Corona del Mar High School, Philip is a local public school success story. Philip's wife, Whitney, also benefitted from our public schools, as she attended Kaiser Elementary, Ensign Intermediate School, and Newport Harbor High School. They have both sides of Newport Bay covered!
Philip grew up sailing at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, where he met Whitney. They are pictured racing together at the Orange Bowl Regatta in Florida in 2000. At CdM, Philip competed on the varsity sailing and soccer teams and was recruited by Yale University to be a member of the sailing team.
Public Corruption Prosecutor
Philip graduated from Yale in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He then returned home and earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2012. After law school, Philip and Whitney married and returned to Costa Mesa, eventually settling in Newport Beach to start their family.
Philip has dedicated his career to public safety as a prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office of San Bernardino County. He has handled hundreds of criminal cases, specializing in prosecuting public corruption and defending criminal convictions before the Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court.
Committed to Education
Philip and Whitney have two sons attending Newport-Mesa schools. He understands the challenges facing today's students. From personal experience, Philip knows that a child's successful education starts with the family. He is running for Newport-Mesa School Board to put parents and students first.
Philip’s parents and extended family have lived in Newport Beach his whole life, and they all emphasized education from a young age. As his late grandfather told him growing up, “No matter your circumstances in life, you always take your education with you.” Philip personally benefited from his family’s involvement in his education, and he will always fight to remove district policies driving a wedge between parents and students.
Philip has coached his sons' soccer teams and several high school mock trial teams, while Whitney has coached both the CdM and NHHS Sailing Teams. Philip is a member of Newport Harbor Yacht Club and still races regularly with Whitney. He is personally invested in our schools' success.