New Assemblyman Ackerman Is Hit of the Party : Legislature: Special election victor sworn in to cheers as 41st Republican in bitterly divided 80-member body.

With Assembly floor sessions marked by mounting partisan fights, Republicans on Wednesday loudly cheered the swearing in of the 41st GOP member: Richard Ackerman of Fullerton.

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The former Fullerton mayor took his seat on the ornate Assembly floor one day after easily winning a special election to fill the North County seat vacated by Ross Johnson, who earlier this year was elected to the state Senate.

Ackerman’s election means the 80-member Assembly has all its seats occupied for the first time since January. It also gives the GOP a clear 41-39 margin over Democrats in the bitterly divided lower house.

After being sworn in by the Assembly’s chief clerk, E. Dotson Wilson, Ackerman, a corporate lawyer, offered a few remarks to his new colleagues that reflected a bit of humor and diplomacy.

“I’ve been advised by both sides of the aisle to keep it short and I will,” the 52-year-old Ackerman said. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve in this body. I think it’s one of the most distinguished bodies in the United States and will continue to be so and I’m happy to be here.”

With lawmakers scheduled to head home for the year Friday, Ackerman will only have a few days to get accustomed to his new duties at the Capitol.

At least initially, he will be sitting next to freshman Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles), an arrangement that caused Republican Leader Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) to caution the conservative Ackerman not to follow his seatmate’s lead when voting on bills.

“He’s sitting next to one of the most liberal members. So his fallback position is to vote the opposite of Wally Knox” if he’s in doubt, Pringle said.

“I’m just happy to have a seat,” Ackerman said later.

One thing stood out for the Assembly freshman from the 72nd District on his first day on the job: the relative inactivity on the Assembly floor.

“So far, I’ve been impressed with the inefficiency of the legislative process,” he said. There was, he complained, “too much down time.”

One of Ackerman’s votes Wednesday was in favor of a GOP measure that would provide California families with a $500 tax credit for each child.

With just a 12.5% turnout on Tuesday, the final vote count showed Ackerman winning 77.7% of the vote to 22.3% for Democrat Shirley Hafner. Ackerman estimated he spent $200,000 on his election, including the primary.

Ackerman favors the recall of Assembly Speaker Doris Allen (R-Cypress), who has said she might resign if she can’t raise enough money, at least $300,000, to fend off her recall opponents. Ackerman’s seating fueled rumors on the Assembly floor that Republicans might seek to oust Allen before Friday’s adjournment.

Originally, Ackerman was to be sworn in today, but his Republican colleagues in the Assembly asked him to come up Wednesday, in part because of a possible move against Allen.