Paul V. Horcher (born August 31, 1951) is an American former politician from California and a former member of the Republican Party.

Paul V. Horcher
Member of the California State Assembly from the 60th district
In office
December 7, 1992 – May 16, 1995
Preceded bySally Tanner
Succeeded byGary Miller
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 52nd district
In office
December 3, 1990 – November 30, 1992
Preceded byFrank Hill
Succeeded byWillard H. Murray Jr.
Member of the Diamond Bar City Council
In office
1989–1990
Member of the Diamond Bar Municipal Advisory Council
In office
1982–1989
Personal details
Born
Paul Virgil Horcher[1]

(1951-08-31) August 31, 1951 (age 73)
Texas, U.S.
Political partyIndependent (since 1994) Republican (until 1994)
Spouse
Van Le
(m. 1982)
Children
  • Kimberley Vanessa
  • Pauline Vonne
ResidenceCalifornia
Alma materCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona
OccupationAttorney

Early career

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A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 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.[2]

Legislative Races

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In 1990 Horcher was elected to the California State Assembly from the 52nd district, which covered eastern Los Angeles County including the cities of West Covina, Whittier and Horcher's hometown of Diamond Bar. He easily won reelection in the renumbered 60th district in 1992.

In late 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 GOP Assemblyman Dick Mountjoy and Diamond Bar city councilman Gary Miller, with the mud between Mountjoy and Miller being especially nasty.[3] Horcher did, however, have an easy reelection to the assembly later that November.

Assembly career

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Although a Republican, 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 on December 5, 1994[4] and voted to keep Democrat Brown in power. Furious Republicans qualified a recall election against Horcher, which voters supported May 16, 1995. He was replaced by, coincidentally, Diamond Bar City Councilman, Gary Miller, who turned out to be a more loyal Republican.[5]

Post Legislature

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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.[2] Following his service to San Francisco, he returned to a real estate and administrative law practice. His niche law practice in San Francisco includes representing massage parlors who have been accused of violating San Francisco Health Code.[6]

Electoral history

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Member, California State Assembly: 1991-1995
Year Office Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1990 California State Assembly
District 52
Gary Neeley 31,583 41.1% Paul Horcher 45,264 58.9%
1992 California State Assembly
District 60
Stan Caress 44,284 36.6% Paul Horcher 67,397 55.7%
1994 California State Senate
District 26 (special election)
Sandy Hester 64,007 33% Paul Horcher 18%
Gary Miller 20%
Richard Mountjoy 45%
116,562 55.7%
1994 California State Assembly
District 60
Andy Ramirez 30,590 32.6% Paul Horcher 94,722 61.5%

References

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  1. ^ "Paul Virgil Horcher # 84882 - Attorney Licensee Search".
  2. ^ a b Vassar, Alex; Shane Meyers (2007). "Paul V. Horcher, Republican". JoinCalifornia.com. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  3. ^ "Complete Election Results". StateNet Publications. December 1994.
  4. ^ Vassar, Alex (2017-12-29). "Where are they now? Paul Horcher". Capitol Weekly. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  5. ^ "The 1996 Primary: The Endgame Begins". StateNet Publications. May 1996.
  6. ^ "Paul Horcher - Attorney". Archived from the original on 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
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Political offices
Preceded by California State Assembly, 60th District
1990-1995
Succeeded by