Dick Ackerman

Dick Ackerman
Member of the California State Senate from the 33rd district
In office December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008
Preceded by	John Lewis
Succeeded by	Mimi Walters
Member of the California State Assembly from the 72nd district
In office September 13, 1995 – November 30, 2000
Preceded by	Ross Johnson
Succeeded by	Lynn Daucher
The Minority Leader of the California State Senate
In office May 10, 2004 – April 15, 2008
Preceded by	Jim Brulte
Succeeded by	Dave Cogdill
Personal details
Born	December 5, 1942 (1942-12-05) (age 68) Long Beach, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Linda Ackerman
Children	Lauren, Marc, Brett
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Christian; Catholic

Richard Charles Ackerman (born December 5, 1942) is a Republican U.S. 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. He currently practices law at Nossaman LLP in Orange County where he is a partner in the firm and focuses on regulatory issues facing clients across multiple industries. Ackerman and his wife, Linda, who married in 1968, have three children, Lauren, Marc, and Brett, and two granddaughters, Caitlin and Elizabeth.

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

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

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

1. ^ "Board of Directors: Ackerman". Pacific Policy Research Foundation. http://pprf.org/about_ackerman.html. Retrieved 2008-04-25. 
2. ^ "Attorney general candidates set sights on 2006". San Mateo County Times. 2002-10-31. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SMCB&p_theme=smcb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F9939B9D8445BD0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 
3. ^ Branan, Brad; Ginis, Kerri; Schultz, E.J. (2008-04-14). "Magsig says rival is ducking debates". Fresno Bee. http://www.fresnobee.com/490/story/538223.html. Retrieved 2008-04-25. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Official Senate web site
• Dick Ackerman Political History

California Assembly
Preceded by Ross Johnson	California State Assemblymember 72nd District September 13, 1995 – November 30, 2000	Succeeded by Lynn Daucher
California Senate
Preceded by John Lewis	California State Senator 33rd District December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008	Succeeded by Mimi Walters
Party political offices
Preceded by Jim Brulte	California State Senate Republican Leader May 10, 2004 – April 15, 2008	Succeeded by Dave Cogdill

Persondata
Name	Ackerman, Dick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 5, 1942
Place of birth	Long Beach, California
Date of death
Place of death