Richard Katz, California Legislator

Biography

Democratic Assembly Member Richard Katz was born in Los Angeles on August 16, 1950. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, San Diego. Katz established a graphic art and printing business in 1975. During the mid-1970s, Katz was active in the Santa Monica Democratic Club (among several other business and community organizations). Katz was a volunteer aide to San Francisco Mayor George Mascone during his 1973 gubernatorial campaign. In what was considered a "Republican landslide year" (Who's Who, 1981), the voters of the 39th Assembly District elected Katz on November 4, 1980, with 50% of the vote, defeating the one-term Republican incumbent.

Katz's sixteen consecutive years in the Assembly indicate that communities such as Pacoima, Sepulveda, San Fernando, and Panorama City (municipalities included in the 39th District varied over the years) felt well represented by Katz. Katz held the post of Assembly Democratic Minority Floor Leader in 1996. His legislative interests include hazardous waste, public health, law enforcement, traffic management, and small business and consumer protection. Assembly Member Pringle introduced House Resolution 76 on August 5, 1996, commending the Honorable Richard Katz for his "exemplary service."

Unable to stay in office due to term limit laws, Katz returned home to Sylmar in 1996 with his wife, Gini Barrett, and their numerous pets. Katz was later appointed by Governor Gray Davis to the California State Water Resources Control Board (2001-2006).

According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks) and the Assembly Final History, Katz served on the following committees:

State Assembly, 1980-1996

From the guide to the Richard Katz Papers, 1980-1996, (California State Archives)