Contributor Report: Richard Leib
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Richard Leib is a prominent California political figure, business executive, and member of the University of California (UC) Board of Regents. He served as the Chair of the UC Board of Regents from 2022 to 2024 and is recognized as a significant political donor and advocate for Zionist causes within the California educational system and the broader San Diego community.
1. Political and Institutional Role
Leib was appointed to the UC Board of Regents in 2018 by Governor Jerry Brown, with a term expiring in 2026. He is the President and CEO of Dunleer Strategies, a San Diego-based consulting firm, and previously co-founded Liquid Environmental Solutions.
- UC Board Tenure: Leib served as the Chair of the Regents during a period of heightened campus activism regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His leadership has been characterized by a firm stance against anti-Zionist activities on campus.
- Political Background: Early in his career, Leib worked for U.S. Representatives Henry Waxman and Mel Levine, both of whom were known as prominent pro-Israel leaders in Congress.
- Sources: University of California Regents Profile (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation), Los Angeles Times Profile (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation).
2. Zionist Advocacy and Institutional Policy
Leib has used his position as a UC Regent to advocate for the inclusion of Zionism as a protected identity and to oppose boycotts of Israel.
- Opposition to Zionist Speaker Bans: In October 2022, Leib issued a formal statement denouncing student groups at UC Berkeley School of Law that adopted bylaws refusing to invite Zionist speakers. He described the move as “disturbing” and stated that “for many of these students, Zionism is an inextricable part of their Jewish identity.”
- Critique of Faculty Post-October 7: Following the October 7, 2023, attacks, Leib publicly rebuked the UC Ethnic Studies Faculty Council for a letter that declined to label Hamas a terrorist organization, calling their statement “repugnant and offensive.”
- Sources: Official Statement on UC Berkeley Law (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation), CalMatters Coverage.
In late 2023 and early 2024, Leib faced widespread calls for his resignation from a coalition of over 115 UC faculty, student, and community groups, including the UC Palestine Collective. The coalition cited his public engagement with social media posts they characterized as dehumanizing to Palestinians and anti-Zionist activists. Documented “likes” from his X (formerly Twitter) account included:
- Opposition to BDS and SJP: Leib liked posts labeling the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) as an “anti-Israel hate group” and content ridiculing the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
- “Pinkwashing” Allegations: He engaged with a post comparing “Queers for Palestine” protesters to “Cows for McDonald’s,” a move critics described as “pinkwashing”—using LGBTQ+ rights to justify Israeli military actions.
- Military Narratives: He liked posts asserting that Hamas used hospitals as military headquarters, a claim used to justify Israeli strikes on medical facilities.
- Sources: Los Angeles Times: Campus Palestinian allies demand UC board chair resign (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation), The Daily Nexus: UC Palestine Collective calls for resignation.
4. Philanthropic and Organizational Ties
Leib’s relationship with Zionist and pro-Israel causes extends to his philanthropic activities and community leadership in San Diego.
- Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego: He and his wife maintain the Richard Leib & Sharon Rosen Leib Family Fund, which supports various Jewish and communal causes.
- American Jewish Committee (AJC): In February 2024, Leib moderated a panel titled “Dispute But Also Create: Ending Antisemitism on Campus” at a symposium co-hosted by the AJC and the Jewish Federation of San Diego.
- Local Political Influence: Leib is described in local media as a “local influence peddler” and a significant donor to Democratic candidates in California, often aligning with the pro-Israel wing of the party.
- Sources: Jewish Community Foundation Fund Directory (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation), San Diego Jewish World: Symposium Report (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation), San Diego Reader: Political Contributions (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation).
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