RES IPSA ONLINE • SUMMER 2013
BRIEF:
Strong Legal Writing, Negotiation Skills Benefit
New State Legislator

California State Assemblyman Brian K. Maienschein '94 on the floor of the Assembly

As the newest California State Assembly member representing northern San Diego, Brian K. Maienschein ’94 looks to his experience as a two-term member of the San Diego City Council and the first Commissioner to End Chronic Homelessness to help guide him as he grapples with statewide issues related to health, the environment, and business. He also draws on his experience as an attorney and the legal skills he gained at California Western to craft quality legislation and build coalitions among his colleagues in the Assembly and Senate.

“How you go about solving problems―that’s in essence what I do every day,” says Maienschein, who must weigh competing issues and priorities as he works with legislators from around the state. “How can we get an important piece of legislation through? How do we balance geographic issues? I pride myself on drafting quality legislation. I should; I’m a lawyer. So all of the things I learned at California Western really come in handy.”

Elected in November to the 77th Assembly District, Maienschein serves as a member of key committees including Health, Judiciary, and Human Services, of which he is the vice chair. His most high-profile piece of legislation thus far is a bill to require background checks for youth sports coaches. Another would grant provisional licensing for spouses of service members licensed to do work in other states. With nearly 33 percent unemployment among military spouses and some families split geographically because of regulatory barriers to work, Maienschein’s proposal could benefit both military families and the state economy.

PAM HARDY // RES IPSA ONLINE