in each of his terms as speaker, pérez has appointed assemblymembers from the minority republican party to chair committees. then-assemblymember col. paul cook (r-yucca valley) served as chair of the committee on veterans affairs, before being elected to the united states house of representatives. the committee on local government was chaired by assemblymember cameron smyth (r-santa clarita), who termed-out of office in 2012, and is now chaired by assemblymember katcho achadjian (r-arroyo grande).