Paul Horcher
Encyclopedia
Paul V. Horcher is an American
politician from California
and a former member of the Republican Party
.
from the 52nd district, which covered eastern Los Angeles County including cities the of West Covina, Whittier and Horcher's hometown of Diamond Bar. He easily won reelection in the renumbered 60th district in 1992.
In early 1994 Horcher also ran, unsuccessfully this time, in a special election for the California State Senate
. The 29th district had been vacated by the resignation of GOP incumbent Frank Hill
, who had been convicted of corruption. Horcher came in third behind then GOP Assemblyman Dick Mountjoy
and then Diamond Bar
city councilman Gary Miller
, with the mud between Mountjoy and Miller being especially nasty. Horcher did, however, have an easy reelection to the assembly later that November.
, Horcher carved a relatively moderate voting record while in the legislature. His support on many key votes endeared him to Democratic Speaker Willie Brown
but made him a pariah among his fellow Republicans. After the 1994 elections, Republicans won control of the California State Assembly
by a single seat. Horcher, still fuming from his own party's rough treatment of him, declared himself an independent and voted to keep Democrat Brown in power. Furious Republicans qualified a recall election
against Horcher, which voters supported May 16, 1995, and replaced him with, coincidentally, Diamond Bar
city councilman Gary Miller
, who turned out to be a more loyal Republican.
|+ Member, California State Assembly
: 1991-1995
!|Year
!|Office
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1990
|California State Assembly
District 52
|
| |Gary Neeley
| align="right" |31,583
| |41.1%
|
| |Paul Horcher
| align="right" |45,264
| |58.9%
|
|-
|1992
|California State Assembly
District 60
|
| |Stan Caress
| align="right" |44,284
| |36.6%
|
| |Paul Horcher
| align="right" |67,397
| |55.7%
|
|-
|1994
|California State Senate
District 26 (special election)
|
| |Sandy Hester
| align="right" |64,007
| |33%
|
| |Paul Horcher 23.5%
Gary Miller 31.3%
Richard Mountjoy 45.2%
| align="right" |116,562
| |55.7%
|
|-
|1994
|California State Assembly
District 60
|
| |Andy Ramirez
| align="right" |30,590
| |32.6%
|
| |Paul Horcher
| align="right" |94,722
| |61.5%
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and a former member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early career
A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Horcher practiced law before joining the Diamond Bar Municipal Advisory council in 1982. In 1989 he co-founded the city of Diamond Bar and was elected to its city council.Legisative Races
In 1990 Horcher was elected to the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from the 52nd district, which covered eastern Los Angeles County including cities the of West Covina, Whittier and Horcher's hometown of Diamond Bar. He easily won reelection in the renumbered 60th district in 1992.
In early 1994 Horcher also ran, unsuccessfully this time, in a special election for the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
. The 29th district had been vacated by the resignation of GOP incumbent Frank Hill
Frank Hill
Frank Robert Hill was a Scottish football player and manager.-Forfar and Aberdeen:Hill was born in Forfar and started his career at Forfar Athletic, joining the club in 1924. He moved to Aberdeen in 1928 and played over 100 Scottish First Division matches...
, who had been convicted of corruption. Horcher came in third behind then GOP Assemblyman Dick Mountjoy
Dick Mountjoy
Richard L. "Dick" Mountjoy is a Republican politician from Monrovia, California.-Personal life:Mountjoy was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School. He was married to Earline Winnett until her death in 2009. He has two sons, Michael and Dennis Lee, and one...
and then Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 55,544 at the 2010 census, down from 56,287 at the 2000 census. It is named after the "diamond over a bar" branding iron registered in 1918 by ranch owner Frederick E...
city councilman Gary Miller
Gary Miller
Gary Gene Miller is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 41st, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, with the mud between Mountjoy and Miller being especially nasty. Horcher did, however, have an easy reelection to the assembly later that November.
Assembly career
Although a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Horcher carved a relatively moderate voting record while in the legislature. His support on many key votes endeared him to Democratic Speaker Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
but made him a pariah among his fellow Republicans. After the 1994 elections, Republicans won control of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
by a single seat. Horcher, still fuming from his own party's rough treatment of him, declared himself an independent and voted to keep Democrat Brown in power. Furious Republicans qualified a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
against Horcher, which voters supported May 16, 1995, and replaced him with, coincidentally, Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 55,544 at the 2010 census, down from 56,287 at the 2000 census. It is named after the "diamond over a bar" branding iron registered in 1918 by ranch owner Frederick E...
city councilman Gary Miller
Gary Miller
Gary Gene Miller is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 41st, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, who turned out to be a more loyal Republican.
Post Legislature
After leaving the Assembly, Horcher held various position in the administration of Willie Brown, who by then had been elected mayor of San Francisco. He served under Brown from 1996 until 2004, when Brown's term ended.Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"|+ Member, California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
: 1991-1995
!|Year
!|Office
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1990
|California State Assembly
District 52
|
| |Gary Neeley
| align="right" |31,583
| |41.1%
|
| |Paul Horcher
| align="right" |45,264
| |58.9%
|
|-
|1992
|California State Assembly
District 60
|
| |Stan Caress
| align="right" |44,284
| |36.6%
|
| |Paul Horcher
| align="right" |67,397
| |55.7%
|
|-
|1994
|California State Senate
District 26 (special election)
|
| |Sandy Hester
| align="right" |64,007
| |33%
|
| |Paul Horcher 23.5%
Gary Miller 31.3%
Richard Mountjoy 45.2%
| align="right" |116,562
| |55.7%
|
|-
|1994
|California State Assembly
District 60
|
| |Andy Ramirez
| align="right" |30,590
| |32.6%
|
| |Paul Horcher
| align="right" |94,722
| |61.5%
|
External links
- JoinCalifornia, Election History for the State of California