Friday, March 13, 2009
Page 4
Governor Appoints Ex-Legislator to Workplace Safety Appeals Board
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday reappointed former Republican Assemblyman Robert Pacheco to the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board.
A three-term member of the Assembly from 1998 to 2004 who served on a number of committees and as vice-chair of the powerful Judiciary committee, Pacheco, 74, is senior partner with the Law Offices of Pacheco & Pacheco in Walnut and has served on the board since 2005.
The board is a three-member, judicial body appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate which handles appeals from private and public-sector employers regarding citations issued by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health for alleged violation of workplace safety and health laws and regulations.
Born in Mesilla Park, N.M., Pacheco in 1952 moved to California, where he graduated from University High School in West Los Angeles. He later attended East Los Angeles Community College and California State University Los Angeles before graduating from Western State University Law School and then earning admission to the State Bar in 1974.
Pacheco worked for 18 years as a member of the Retail Clerks International Union, which became part of the United Food and Commercial Workers in 1979, and as store manager for several major supermarket chains. After leaving the grocery industry he went to work for United California Bank where he was a vice president in the corporate banking division.
In 1976 Pacheco became a sole practitioner in the private law firm he created, and before joining the Assembly he served as a city council member and planning commissioner for the City of Walnut.
He is also chief financial officer of Western Hardware Company, a manufacturing and distribution company he owns with his wife, Gayle Pacheco, a State Bar member since 1993 who also works in the Pacheco law firm.
The company supplies stainless steel and stamped metal hardware products to original equipment manufacturers in the truck body, furniture and housing industries.
Pacheco is the founder of the Gabriel Foundation, the Walnut Valley Unified School District Educational Foundation and the Walnut Humanitarian and Medical Mission.
While serving in the Assembly, he was recognized as both Legislator of the Year and Outstanding Citizen by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Association, the California Community College Administrators, the Lincoln Clubs of California, the Walnut Chamber of Commerce and the Boy Scouts of America.
Pacheco was also inducted into the Western State University Law School’s Hall of Fame and received the Nettie Humanitarian award for prevention of HIV/AIDS, the American Islamic Relations Legislator Award, Outstanding Legislative Advocate for Easter Seals award, and the Latino Journal’s Excellence in Public Service Award.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $111,845.
Copyright 2009, Metropolitan News Company