Michael Yancey Roos (born August 6, 1945) is an American political strategist and former legislative leader in the California State Assembly, which he served for over 14 years.
Before his election to the California State Assembly, he was Chief Deputy to Los Angeles City Councilmember, Marvin Braude, and served as Executive Director of the Coro Foundation, a leadership training program for future leaders in government and public affairs.
In 1977, he ran during a special election as the Democratic candidate for Assembly to succeed Charles Warren, who Carter appointed to head the Council on Environmental Quality in Washington, DC.
He served as (Democrat) Majority Floor Leader for six years until he was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.
[1] Some of his major legislative achievements include the Roberti-Roos Weapons Control Act of 1989 - landmark legislation banning assault weapons, the first in the history of the United States,[1] and the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982, which provided local government with an innovative, alternate method of financing basic and much needed public facilities.
[1] He also authored legislation prohibiting sex discrimination in California educational institutions and was instrumental in enacting a model curriculum for K-12 students to explore the issues of human rights, genocide and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Mike Roos served as President and CEO of LEARN, a coalition of civic leaders and representatives of Los Angeles’ diverse education, ethnic, business, labor, academic, religious and social advocacy constituencies organized in 1991, to implement systemic reform and restructuring within the Los Angeles Unified School District.
A former resident of Silver Lake estates,[3] He continues to live in Los Angeles with his wife and near his daughters Shelby and Melissa and stepdaughters Alexandra Donfeld and Whitney Allen.