Jerry M. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Jerry Mumford Patterson is a California
lawyer in California and the District of Columbia, educator and politician
, who was a United States Representative from California
.
Born in El Paso, Texas
, Patterson graduated from Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona
in 1952. He served in the United States Coast Guard
from 1953 to 1957. Patterson received his B.A.
from California State University, Long Beach
in 1960. He completed 30 units of graduate work at the University of Southern California School of Public Administration in 1961 to 1963, then went on to UCLA School of Law
where he earned his law degree
from UCLA in 1966.
He was admitted to the California bar in 1967 and commenced practice in Santa Ana
. He was a Santa Ana city council
man from 1969 to 1973. He was concurrently the Mayor
of Santa Ana and the City Attorney
of Placentia
from 1973 to 1975.
Congressman Patterson was the first Democrat to be elected to Congress from a district entirely within Orange County, California. He served five terms from January 3, 1975 until January 3, 1985, when he vacated his office after losing his reelection bid to Bob Dornan
.
He served as chairman of the Select Committee on Committee Reform (Ninety-sixth
Congress)and Chaired the House Subcommittee on International Development Finance in the Ninety-seventh
and Ninety-eighth
Congress'.
He resumed the practice of law in Costa Mesa
in 1986. He was a professor at California State University, Long Beach
from 1986 to 1999. He became the City Attorney
of Cypress
in 1987, Dana Point, California in 1989 and Lake Forest, California in 1991. Patterson retired from his law practice in 1997 and has been President of his own public affairs consulting firm since 1998. Congressman Patterson continues to be an educator, community activist and member of nonprofit boards and commissions. In 1996 Patterson returned to elective office when he won a seat on the Coast Community College District Board of Trustees where he continues to serve on the college board for Orange Coast College
, Golden West College
and Coastline Community College
.
Patterson lives in Fountain Valley
, with his wife, Linda Moulton-Patterson, who was a Huntington Beach
City Councilwoman and Mayor from 1990 until 1994. She served five years on the California Coastal Commission from 1994 to 1999. Moulton-Patterson served in the Administration of Governor Gray Davis where she was the first woman and longest serving Chair of the California Integrated Waste Management Board from 1999 to 2005, a board to reduce, reuse, and recycle products and natural resources to save waste landfills. Jerry Patterson and Linda Moulton-Patterson have four adult children and six grandchildren.
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...
lawyer in California and the District of Columbia, educator and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who was a United States Representative 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...
.
Born in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, Patterson graduated from Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
in 1952. He served in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
from 1953 to 1957. Patterson received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
in 1960. He completed 30 units of graduate work at the University of Southern California School of Public Administration in 1961 to 1963, then went on to UCLA School of Law
UCLA School of Law
The UCLA School of Law is the law school of the University of California, Los Angeles. It has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1950. It joined the Association of American Law Schools in 1952.- History :...
where he earned his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from UCLA in 1966.
He was admitted to the California bar in 1967 and commenced practice in Santa Ana
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
. He was a Santa Ana city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
man from 1969 to 1973. He was concurrently the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Santa Ana and the City Attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
of Placentia
Placentia, California
-Local: Placentia is a Charter city with an elected city council and professional city manager. Placentia City Council*Mayor- Scott W. Nelson*Mayor Pro Tem- Jeremy Yamaguchi*Council Member- Joe Aquirre*Council Member- Constance Underhill...
from 1973 to 1975.
Congressman Patterson was the first Democrat to be elected to Congress from a district entirely within Orange County, California. He served five terms from January 3, 1975 until January 3, 1985, when he vacated his office after losing his reelection bid to Bob Dornan
Bob Dornan
Robert Kenneth "Bob" Dornan is a Republican and former member of the United States House of Representatives from California and a vocal advocate of pro-life and social conservative causes....
.
He served as chairman of the Select Committee on Committee Reform (Ninety-sixth
96th United States Congress
The Ninety-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1979 to January 3, 1981, during the last two years...
Congress)and Chaired the House Subcommittee on International Development Finance in the Ninety-seventh
97th United States Congress
The Ninety-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1981 to January 3, 1983, during the final weeks of...
and Ninety-eighth
98th United States Congress
The Ninety-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1983 to January 3, 1985, during the third and...
Congress'.
He resumed the practice of law in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
in 1986. He was a professor at California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
from 1986 to 1999. He became the City Attorney
Counsel
A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters.-U.K. and Ireland:The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers...
of Cypress
Cypress, California
Cypress is a suburban city located in the northern region of Orange County within Southern California. Its population was 47,802 at the 2010 census.-History:...
in 1987, Dana Point, California in 1989 and Lake Forest, California in 1991. Patterson retired from his law practice in 1997 and has been President of his own public affairs consulting firm since 1998. Congressman Patterson continues to be an educator, community activist and member of nonprofit boards and commissions. In 1996 Patterson returned to elective office when he won a seat on the Coast Community College District Board of Trustees where he continues to serve on the college board for Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College is a community college in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides two-year associate of art and science degrees, certificates of achievement, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges...
, Golden West College
Golden West College
Golden West College or GWC, is a community college providing two-year associate of arts degrees, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges and universities...
and Coastline Community College
Coastline Community College
Coastline Community College is a community college with three mini-campuses and an administration building in Fountain Valley, California. The college offers Associate in Arts degrees, Associate in Science degrees, courses to prepare students to transfer to a 4-year college or university, and...
.
Patterson lives in Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley, California
Fountain Valley is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 55,313 at the 2010 census. A classic bedroom community, Fountain Valley is a middle-class residential area.- History :...
, with his wife, Linda Moulton-Patterson, who was a Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
City Councilwoman and Mayor from 1990 until 1994. She served five years on the California Coastal Commission from 1994 to 1999. Moulton-Patterson served in the Administration of Governor Gray Davis where she was the first woman and longest serving Chair of the California Integrated Waste Management Board from 1999 to 2005, a board to reduce, reuse, and recycle products and natural resources to save waste landfills. Jerry Patterson and Linda Moulton-Patterson have four adult children and six grandchildren.