After his father returned from active duty in World War II, his family moved to Harbison Canyon, California, a small town outside San Diego.
Mockler set up a fund-raiser for the campaign, the largest folk concert produced in America (at the time) at the Hollywood Bowl in September 23, 1964.
He joined the staff of Senator Fred Farr as a legislative assistant and went on to become a Consultant to the California State Legislature, including the Assembly Education and Ways and Means committees.
[2][6] From 1983-85, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Speaker of the California State Assembly Willie Brown.
[8] Mockler founded and served three years as Director of the Independent Analysis Unit of the Los Angeles City Board of Education.