Full Biography for Dick Ackerman

Assemblyman Dick Ackerman represents the 72nd Assembly District in North Orange County which includes the cities of Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, and Yorba Linda, as well as portions of Anaheim and Buena Park. Ackerman was elected by an overwhelming majority in 1995 and is currently enjoying his second term in the Assembly.

Dick Ackerman is a long time Southern California resident. He was born in Long Beach, California and is a graduate of Bellflower High School. In 1964, Ackerman earned his BA in Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley, and three years later he earned his Juris Doctor Degree from the Hastings School of Law.

As a member of the State Assembly, Ackerman's legislative priorities include regulatory reform, crime reduction, and cutting government waste. Dick is a member of the Assembly Republican Leadership where he acts as Assistant Republican Leader. He serves on the Appropriations, Higher Education, and Local Government Committees. He is also Co-Chair of the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee, serves on the Assembly Sub-Committee on Sexual Harassment, and is a former member of the California Law Revision Commission.

As a local elected official, Dick Ackerman has been involved in his community for many years. He was a member of the Fullerton City Council for twelve years, twice serving as mayor. Ackerman was also a member of Fullerton's Economic Development Team, Chairman of the Orange County Waste Management Commission, and Vice Chairman of the Southern California Hazardous Waste Management Authority.

Dick Ackerman has also been an active member of the business and education communities, where he has served as a member of the President's Advisory Board to California State University, Fullerton. Ackerman is a past Chamber of Commerce President and a member of several community service organizations such as the Fullerton Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge.

The community has recognized Ackerman's public service contributions by giving him several awards. These prestigious acknowledgments include: 1997 Orange County League of Cities Legislator of the Year; 1997 Republican Party of Orange County Legislator of the Year; 1996 Elected Official of the Year by the Orange County Committee for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities; Fullerton Chamber of Commerce 1996 Educator of the Year; and the Regional Centers of Orange County Spotlight Award for Outstanding Service to people with developmental disabilities.

Dick and his wife Linda have lived in Orange County for twenty years. They have three children, Lauren, Marc, and Brett. Lauren is a speech therapist in Northern California; Marc is newly married and a manager for J.C. Penney Company; and Brett is currently attending college in San Diego.