Advertisement

Mansoor named to panels

Share

Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) was assigned to serve on four committees and one sub-committee for the 2011-12 regular session.

The former Costa Mesa mayor will serve as co-chairman of the newly formed Assembly Ethics Committee with Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Natomas).

“I don’t want to go after something for the sake of going after it,” said Mansoor, who serves the 68th District. “But at the same time, if there’s an issue of corruption or an ethics violation, I will take it seriously and work with Democrats and Republicans alike. I don’t want to go on a witch hunt.”

Advertisement

Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) also selected Mansoor to serve as vice chairman of the Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security, (CalPERS). The former sheriff’s deputy will get to work directly on at least one of the issues he ran on — pension reform.

“Pension is a huge issue right now and there’s going to be a learning curve, but I will give it my best,” Mansoor said. “I will work with everyone, but keep in mind, numbers don’t lie and the path we’re on is unsustainable. I’m going in with an open mind to be fair, but at the same time, I’ll have to look at how this is impacting our budget.”

Mansoor will also serve on the Budget Committee, the Budget Sub-Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Health Committee.

“I will take this seriously and work with everyone to make sure that we are practical at what we do,” he said.

Freshman legislators typically get assigned to serve on the committees by the speaker; they don’t usually get to pick which committees to serve on, but they can make requests.

Mansoor requested to serve on the Health Committee.

“I was looking for a new challenge,” he said. “But I was completely open to serving on any committee and had the attitude that whatever I’m given I was willing to take it seriously and do my best.”

Perez could not be reached for comment, but a statement on his website read, “I am very proud that in these tough times we have so many leaders in the Assembly, both returning members and new members, who can help put California back on the right track. In appointing a leadership team, committee chairs and full committees, I have worked to make sure we maximize the talents and experience of all the outstanding men and women Californians have entrusted to serve in the Assembly.”

Advertisement