Senator Polanco has been a leader in Education, Gun Control Legislation, Healthcare, Prison Reform as well as championing for the needs of California's under-served communities.  In 1998, he authored legislation that provided $115 million for after-school and summer school programs.  He is widely respected for his efforts to promote equal opportunity and increase investment in industries that provided jobs for Californians. He pioneered California's citizenship education program assisting over 500,000 Californian's to become naturalized citizens. He authored legislation to help jump-start the electric car industry in California and pushed for equal opportunity in contracting for women, minority and veteran owned businesses.

Senator Polanco has fought tirelessly on behalf of underserved communities throughout the State of California. He has spent a lifetime advocating for low income communities and authored significant legislation creating policy in the areas of: MWBE certification; Congregate Living Facilities for HIV Populations; Accessibility Emergency Services Information, Long Distance Telephone Fraud; Universal Access/Telcom & Life Line Communication Service;  Energy Program Funding SB 678; Non-profits and lending institutions; and the California Procurement Act.

As the former Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, he promoted and has often been quoted as saying "The Latino Agenda is an American Agenda. Good jobs, descent housing, safe neighborhoods, access to health care and Equal Opportunity in Education". In October 2002, Senator Polanco established the California Latino Caucus Institute for Public Policy, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. The Institute was created as a non-partisan effort by the California Latino Legislative Caucus to serve as a broad based public policy, educational and leadership development organization.

First elected in 1986, Richard Polanco served in the State Assembly for eight years. In 1994 he was elected to the State Senate and served as Senate Majority Leader from 1998 to his retirement in 2002. Senator Polanco is perhaps best known for his work with the Latino Legislative Caucus, which he chaired from 1990 until 2002.  Under his leadership, Senator Polanco led efforts to increase the statewide number of Democratic Legislators from seven Latino members to 24. This contributed greatly to the first Latino Speaker of the Assembly.

Senator Polanco began his career in public service through his involvement in student government, the Junior Optimist Club, and other youth organizations. He Founded the East Side Association that enabled more than 500 youth to compete in sports while emphasizing academic and learning skills. Polanco later helped to establish the Arroyo Vista Family Health Center in Highland Park, which offers health care with fees based on the patient's ability to pay. Prior to elected office, Polanco served on the staff of Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman, Assemblyman Richard Alatorre and former Governor Jerry Brown.

Chairman Richard G. Polanco son of Maria and Lorenzo Polanco, was born and raised in East Los Angeles.  He graduated from James A. Garfield High School and East Los Angeles College going on to attend both the University of Redlands and the Universidad de Mexico, Majoring in Business administration. Senator Polanco lives in Los Angeles with his wife Olivia, and his three children, Richard Jr., Gabriel and Liana.