Dick Ackerman

Dick Ackerman
Minority Leader of the California Senate
In office
May 10, 2004 – April 15, 2008
Preceded byJim Brulte
Succeeded byDave Cogdill
Member of the California Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008
Preceded byJohn Lewis
Succeeded byMimi Walters
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 72nd district
In office
September 13, 1995 – November 30, 2000
Preceded byRoss Johnson
Succeeded byLynn Daucher
Personal details
Born (1942-12-05) December 5, 1942 (age 81)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLinda Ackerman
Children3
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
University of California, Hastings (JD)
ProfessionAttorney

Richard Charles Ackerman (born December 5, 1942) is an American Republican politician, who was a California State Senator for the 33rd District, representing inland Orange County, from 2000 to 2008.

Born in Long Beach, California, Ackerman earned a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1964 and a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in 1967. Ackerman and his wife, Linda, who married in 1968, have three children, Lauren, Marc, and Brett, and four grandchildren, Caitlin, Elizabeth, Robert & Delaney.

Elected to the Fullerton City Council in 1980, Ackerman served three terms on the council, also serving as Mayor in 1982 and 1986.

California State Assembly career

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Ackerman was elected to the California State Assembly from the 72nd District in a 1995 special election to replace Assemblyman Ross Johnson, who vacated the seat after winning a special election to the State Senate. He was unopposed for re-election in 1996 and won 68% of the vote in 1998. During his tenure in the Assembly, Ackerman served as Assistant Republican Leader, Republican Caucus Whip, Vice Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, Vice Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, a member of Appropriations Committee, and a member of the Legislative Ethics Committee.

California State Senate career

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After those three terms in the Assembly, Ackerman was elected to the State Senate in 2000. In first year in the Senate, he became Vice Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Ackerman and his family moved from their long-time Fullerton residence in the northern part of his Senate District to Irvine in the central part of his Senate District.[1] In 2002, Ackerman agreed to run as a sacrificial lamb against incumbent Democratic Attorney General Bill Lockyer in the latter's bid for a second term, as no Republican sought the nomination for Attorney General and Ackerman could retain his Senate seat since it was not up for election until 2004.[2] As expected, Lockyer won re-election and Ackerman stayed in the Senate. On May 10, 2004, Ackerman was unanimously elected to serve as Senate Minority Leader. Six months later, he won re-election to the Senate with 69% of the vote. On April 15, 2008, Ackerman officially handed over California Senate GOP leadership to fellow Long Beach-born State Senator Dave Cogdill.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Board of Directors: Ackerman". Pacific Policy Research Foundation. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  2. ^ "Attorney general candidates set sights on 2006". San Mateo County Times. 2002-10-31. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  3. ^ Branan, Brad; Ginis, Kerri; Schultz, E.J. (2008-04-14). "Magsig says rival is ducking debates". Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
[edit]
California Assembly
Preceded by California State Assemblymember
72nd District
September 13, 1995 – November 30, 2000
Succeeded by
California Senate
Preceded by California State Senator
33rd District
December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by California State Senate Republican Leader
May 10, 2004 – April 15, 2008
Succeeded by