Rod Pacheco - Assembly Career

Assembly Career

Pacheco ran for the California State Assembly in 1996. With his victory, he became the first Latino Republican elected in more than a century. He was elected Leader of the Republican caucus, marking the first time in the state’s history that a Latino has served in that capacity.

Pacheco sought greater protections for the men and women of law enforcement. During his first term in office, he authored the successful Proposition 222 – “The Peace Officer’s Safety Initiative” – which prohibited the possibility of parole for the murder of a peace officer. Proposition 222 garnered nearly 80% of California voters’ support on the June 1998 ballot.

In honor of Pacheco’s commitment to victims and the criminal justice system, numerous public safety associations named him “Legislator of the Year”. They included Crime Victims United of California, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the California Department of Forestry Firefighters Association, the California District Attorney’s Association and the California Highway Patrol. On a local level, the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Riverside County also honored him.

Pacheco’s commitment to public service and to victims of crime attracted the attention of significant nonprofit organizations. KidSafe, dedicated to protecting children and named him to their board of directors as an honorary member. In his district, he served as a board member of the University of California at Riverside Friends of Education and the Fender Museum of Music and the Arts.

During his first term in the legislature he served as the Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee and the Select Committee on Education Technology. His efforts resulted in numerous advances for California’s schools, most notable was an investment in textbooks and push for stronger school accountability, increased safety measures in schoolyards, and the implementation of statewide testing standards.

As an Assemblyman, the California School Boards Association and the University of California Alumni Association recognized his commitment to education at all levels when both groups named Rod Pacheco their “Legislator of the Year.”

In 2000, Pacheco formed a bipartisan legislative coalition aimed at reforming the Cal Grant system to ensure that all eligible students would be provided the resources they need to attend college. The legislation passed both houses of the State Legislature and was signed into law. John Mockler, then California Secretary of Child Development, hailed its passage as “…the most significant educational reform since the G.I. bill.” Pacheco was honored by the California State University Students Association as their “Legislator of the Year” for this achievement.