Guide to the Richard (Dick) Ackerman Papers

Processed by Jason Sarmiento
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2014
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Richard (Dick) Ackerman Papers

Collection number:LP452

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California
Processed by:
Jason Sarmiento
Date Completed:
November 2013
Encoded by:
Katy Hogue
© 2014 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Richard (Dick) Ackerman Papers
Dates: 1995-2008
Collection number: LP452
Creator: Ackerman, Richard (Dick), 1942- , California legislator
Collection Size: 9 cubic feet of textual records and 4 videocassettes
Repository: California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Richard "Dick" Ackerman, Republican, served in the California Legislature from 1995-2008. He was an Assembly Member representing the 72nd Assembly District from 1995-2000. From 2001-2008, he served as a State Senator for the 33rd Senate District. The Richard (Dick) Ackerman Papers consist of 9 cubic feet of textual records and audiovisual materials and cover the years 1995-2008. The records are organized into five series: Bill Files, 1995-2008; Subject Files, 1993-1999; Correspondence, 1995-1999; News Clippings, 1997-2007; and Proposition 208 Files, 1996-1997.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Richard (Dick) Ackerman Papers, LP452:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

California State Archives acquired the Richard (Dick) Ackerman papers in a series of ten transfers beginning in 1997 (Accession Numbers: 2008-185, 2008-053, 2007-040, 2004-015, 2002-331, 2000-12-11, 1999-12-10, 1999-09-26, 1999-05-35, and 97-02-18).

Biography

Richard “Dick” Ackerman, Republican, served in the California Legislature from 1995 to 2008. He was first elected into the California State Assembly, winning a September special election runoff vote over Shirely Hafner (Democrat). Ackerman ran unopposed for the position in both the 1996 primary and general election. During his Assembly term, he represented the 72nd Assembly District, encompassing the cities of Fullerton, Placentia and Yorba Linda. After Ackerman’s Assembly term ended in 2000, he moved onto the State Senate, by winning the vacant Senate seat formerly occupied by John Lewis (Republican). Ackerman represented the 33rd Senate District, which encompassed the eastern portion of Orange County, until 2008. On May 10, 2004 Ackerman was elected as the Senate Republican leader and served as the Senate Minority Leader. He stepped down as Minority Leader in April 2008, relinquishing the position to Senator Dave Cogdill.
Dick Ackerman was born on December 5, 1942, in Long Beach, California. Ackerman graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics before entering the U.C. Hastings School of Law. Ackerman’s political career started with the Fullerton City Council where he served for twelve years. While in the city council, he served as Mayor of Fullerton in 1982 and 1986. At the local level, Ackerman served on the California State University, Fullerton’s President’s Advisory Board and the Board of Trustees of the Southern California College of Optometry. Ackerman and his wife, Linda, have three children and two grandchildren.
As a State Legislator, Ackerman’s legislative interests were varied, from business growth to education reform and tax reduction. He also authored numerous bills related to public safety, tort reform, and welfare reform.
During his term in the California Legislature, Ackerman served on the following committees according to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), Assembly Final History, Senate Final History, and Pocket Directory of the California Legislature.

California State Assembly, 1995-2000

  • Assistant Republican Leader (Minority), 1998
  • Standing Committees
  • Appropriations, 1995-2000
  • Education, 1995-1996
  • Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, 1995-1996
  • Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1995-1996
  • Governmental Organization, 1999-2000
  • Higher Education, 1997-2000
  • Judiciary, 1999-2000 (Vice Chair, 2000)
  • Local Government, 1995-1996
  • Natural Resources, 1995-1996 (Vice Chair, 1996)
  • Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security, 1995-1996
  • Rules (Alternate), 1997
  • Subcommittees
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response (Rules), 1997-1998
  • Select Committees
  • California Wine Industry, 1999-2000
  • Legislative Ethics, 1997-2000 (Co-Chair, 1997-1998)
  • Jobs-Housing Balance, 1999-2000
  • Professional Sports, 1997-1998
  • California Law Revision Commission, 1997-1998
  • Local Government Caucus, 1999-2000

California State Senate, 2001-2008

  • Senate Republican Leader (Minority), 2004-2008
  • Standing Committees
  • Budget and Fiscal Review, 2001-2004 (Vice Chair, 2001-2004)
  • Government Modernization, Efficiency, and Accountability, 2005-2006
  • Housing and Community Development, 2001-2004
  • Judiciary, 2001-2008 (Vice Chair, 2006)
  • Labor and Industrial Relations, 2005-2008
  • Legislative Ethics, 2007-2008 (Vice Chair, 2007)
  • Local Government, 2001-2006
  • Subcommittees
  • Legislative, Executive Public Safety, and General Government (Budget and Fiscal Review), 2002-2004
  • Bad Faith Liability and Consumer Rights (Judiciary), 2003-2004
  • Select Committees
  • Anti-Terrorism Policy, 2001-2004
  • Asian and Pacific Rim Economic Development, 2007-2008
  • Asian/Pacific Rim Trade, 2005-2006
  • California-European Trade, 2005-2008 (Chair, 2005-2008)
  • California Wine Industry, 2001-2008
  • Urban Economic Development, 2003-2004
  • Joint Committees
  • Arts, 2001-2004
  • Legislative Budget, 2001-2004
  • Rules, 2007-2008
  • Joint Subcommittees
  • Special Subcommittee on State Expenditures to Purchase Electricity, 2002-2004
  • Senate Republican Caucus, 2005-2007
  • Commission on Uniform State Laws

Scope and Content

The Richard (Dick) Ackerman papers consist of 9 cubic feet of textual records and audiovisual materials and cover the years 1995-2008. The records are organized into five series: Bill Files, 1995-2008; Subject Files, 1993-1999; Correspondence, 1995-1999; News Clippings, 1997-2007; and Proposition 208 Files, 1996-1997.
The Bill Files are the bulk of his collection and a strong source of information about his legislative interests. Within this series, recurring topics include: economic growth promotion, (SB399, 2001-2002; SB47, 2003-2004), consumer protection (AB2582, 1999-2000; SB916, 2001-2002), local government (AB2503, 1995-1996; AB1774, 1997-1998), public safety (AB3357, 1995-1996; SB1784, 2001-2002), and tort reform (AB3259, 1995-1996; AB1446, 1997-1998; SB109, 2001-2002).
The Subject Files and News Clippings additionally reflect upon Ackerman’s political activities during his tenure with the California State legislature. Notable subject files relate to the 1995 Orange County bankruptcy crisis, Title IX gender equity, and the California budget and fiscal highlights. Press releases include articles reflecting Ackerman’s political opinions, such as tax reform, obscenity in the digital age, and education protection.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Economic development
Consumer protection-California
Local government-California
Public safety


LP452:1-137

Series 1 Bill Files 1995-2008

Physical Description: 137 file folders

Arrangement

Bill Files are arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill Files were created by Dick Ackerman while he served as an Assembly Member from 1995-2000 and State Senator from 2001-2008. The files may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author’s statements, testimony, press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and committee statements that pertain to numerous issues of concern to Ackerman.
As an Assembly Member and Senator, Dick Ackerman’s legislative interests were varied. Some topics and bills of note include: local government (AB2503, 1995-1996; AB1774, 1997-1998), public safety (AB3357, 1995-1996; SB1784, 2001-2002), tax reform (AB 706, 1995-1996; AB119 and AB189, 1999-2000; SB995, 2007-2008) and tort reform (AB3259, 1995-1996; AB1446, 1997-1998; SB109, 2001-2002).
Among his other legislative interests, Ackerman advocated for pro-business legislation such as corporate merging (SB 324, 2001-2002), corporate securities (SB400, 2001-2002), consumer protection (AB2582 and AB1569, 1999-2000; SB916, 2001-2002), and small business incentives (AB2505, 1997-1998).
1995-1996 AB2503-AB3412 (19ff) LP452:1-19
1997-1998 AB159-AB2523 (19ff) LP452:20-38
1999-2000 AB119-AB2665, AB38X (25ff) LP452:39-63
2001-2002 SB3-SB2041, SCR40-SCR76, SB2X2 (25ff) LP452:64-88
2003-2004 SB42-SB1746, SJR19 (21ff) LP452:89-109
2005-2006 SB25-SB1787, SR7 (19ff) LP452:110-128
2007-2008 SB273-SB1631, SJR29, SCR40 (10ff) LP452:129-137
LP452:138-152

Series 2 Subject Files 1993-1999

Physical Description: 15 file folders and 4 videocassettes

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Access Information

Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.

Scope and Content Note

Subject Files include press and news clippings, correspondence, support letters, bill analyses, local government reports and/or interest group memoranda regarding certain subject files at the local, state and federal levels. The topics addressed cover a broad spectrum of issues, from illegal immigration to economic recovery to private jail abuse, and reflect Ackerman’s legislative interests.
See Appendix A for a complete listing of subject headings

Additional Series Information

LP452:154-167

Series 3 Correspondence 1995-1999

Physical Description: 14 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by correspondence date.

Scope and Content Note

Sampled correspondence includes communication between Dick Ackerman and his fellow legislators, some constituents, and agencies and organizations affected by specific legislation during his time in the State Legislature.
LP452:153

Series 4 News Clippings 1997-2007

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of publication..

Scope and Content Note

News Clippings files include articles written by Ackerman, along with articles written about Ackerman. Articles are derived from scholarly publications, professional journals, and newspaper articles. The scope of the articles pertains to Ackerman’s political interest, including public safety, government reform, and economic recovery. The files also include press releases, certificates, and photographs.
LP452:168-171

Series 5 Proposition 208 Files 1996-1997

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Proposition 208 files are organized in two separate arrangements: the first group is arranged chronologically by date of correspondence, the second group is arranged numerically by filing number.

Scope and Content Note

The Proposition 208 files include correspondence between the Fair Political Practices Commission, Dick Ackerman, and various constituents. The correspondence includes questions and answers regarding legal aspects and capabilities of Prop 208, which limits the amount of contributions that could be made by a donor.