Two University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law alumni, Michael Belote ’87 and Rex Frazier ’00, share the distinction of being named to Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 Hall of Fame. Belote, recognized for the tenth time, and Frazier, honored for the fifteenth year, exemplify the enduring influence of McGeorge graduates in California’s legal and policy forum.

“McGeorge’s Capital Center for Law & Policy is exceedingly proud to celebrate the recognition of two of our alumni, Mike Belote and Rex Frazier, to Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 Hall of Fame for their contributions in the policy advocacy arena,” said Erin O’Neal, an associate professor of law & public policy and the director of Capital Center for Law & Policy.

Rex Frazier, ‘00

Frazier was a civil servant during the day, representing the Frazier recognized that insurance is the language of the law.

“I decided to go to McGeorge at night in order to be a better civil servant,” he said. “I had no intention on practicing traditional law, but I learned about those opportunities during law school.”

Frazier said after graduating as valedictorian from McGeorge, he practiced transactional and regulatory law at Pillsbury Madison & Sutro for six years. He served as a deputy insurance commissioner for the CDI from late 1994 through 1999 before joining Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC) as general counsel for a year and then CEO of the property-casualty insurance trade association for the last 21 years.

“We help these market competitors come to consensus on public policy issues within the constraints of what is permitted by anti-trust law,” he said. “We provide help with state government affairs, across all branches of government and help them organize their political and media efforts.”

When he started at PIFC in 2005, it had just five members and represented 50% of the market whereas PIFC now has 14 insurer members that collectively represent 80% of the property insurance market as well as 90% of the auto insurance market.

“PIFC has grown quite a bit; it’s a recognition of PIFC’s ability to be a recognized advocacy voice that is always additive to the process,” Frazier said.

Frazier has worked to help people through years of catastrophic fires and regulatory uncertainty.

“There have been so many issues over time, but certainly the continuing decline of the fire insurance market has been an ‘all hands-on deck’ issues since 2018,” Frazier said.

He said for many years he has worked towards a much-needed market reforms that materialized in Commissioner Lara’s year-old regulations that prevented insurers from being able to serve the highest fire risk areas of California. Those regulations were finalized in August and three insurers (Mercury, CSAA and Pacific Specialty) have filed growth plans with the CDI.

“We look forward to CDI’s quick consideration of these filings (because they need to be approved by CDI before the company can execute the plans) and the submission of many more by other major insurers,” Frazier said.

He is most proud of two original classes he created at McGeorge on how to effectively lobby including the Legislative and Public Policy Clinic where students developed original bills, 15 of which have been signed into law.

“I set out to develop a class on how to lobby (which was missing at McGeorge) and after initial success and high student enrollment, worked with prior students to develop a public policy clinic that operated for five years,” Frazier said.

Students would take the fall semester to develop an original bill and then he would help them secure a legislator to author the bill. Students would then participate in a policy committee hearing on their bill before the end of spring semester. He published a law review article in the Duquesne Law Journal about the unique and groundbreaking approach.

Frazier said 15 student bills have been signed into law by former Gov. Jerry Brown and current Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 15^th bill was passed into law in October 2025.

“It was a lot of work, but McGeorge has a platform that allows this work,” Frazier said. 

Mike Belote ‘87

Belote has a passion for working with McGeorge students. He said he was busy early in his career making a name for himself, but in recent years has been actively involved with McGeorge students. Belote is both a member of the law school’s Dean’s Cabinet and Capital Center Alumni Board.

He has also funded two generous endowments. The Michael Belote Endowed Capital Center Lecture, hosted each year by McGeorge’s Capital Center for Law and Policy has brought discussions on cutting-edge legal issues to the campus, such as “Journalism in the Era of Fake News,” The Future of Downtowns: Developing a New Vision for America’s Urban Core,” and “Division, Distrust & Deliberation: American Democracy in Transition.” The Michael Belote Public Interest Endowed Scholarship ensures that students wishing to better themselves and their community can afford a legal education without financial barriers.

“It has enriched my life to be reconnected with McGeorge School of Law,” Belote said. “I believe there is a need to support young law students and there are a lot of way to remain engaged with students.”

He said he has participated in various events and activities, including judging moot court which he volunteers his time to do because it helps students.

Belote has actively supported students in McGeorge’s Public Legal Services Society by volunteering to emcee the program’s yearly fundraising auction as well as offering financial donations himself. He often encourages others to match his gifts and support the program.

Belote shares with students his nearly 50 years of experience in California politics. He was a pivotal part of the effort last year that led to the first major reforms in California’s “lemon law” since its inception in 1970. Under the new law, auto companies and car buyers would be required to try to settle disputes through mediation.

He’s been a major player with the powerhouse firm California Advocates since 1990. Before joining California Advocates, he was a legislative advocate for the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the California Association of Realtors.

“In my 50 years of experience, I am still learning every day,” Belote said.

He was recognized as one of McGeorge’s inaugural 40 Alumni of Honor in 2024 and was named as Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by an association of philanthropic fundraisers in the Sacramento Capital Region.

Belote has long represented legal clients, like the California Judges Association and the California Defense Counsel. Belote also served as Vice President and Legislative Counsel for the California Land Title Association and is known for his philanthropic work for groups such as Volunteers of America, the Public Legal Services Society at McGeorge and Battlefields to Ballfields (an organization which helps train veterans to become sports officials).

“I am always struck by how legislators are trying to do the right thing; whether their perspective is your own, they try to do what is right,” Belote said.

He commented on how rapidly laws change and how public opinion shapes what legislators do. Adding that people don’t really hear about the type of corruption in California like in other states.

Frazier echoed the same sentiment, stating: “It’s vital to treat everyone with respect, listen more than you talk, be genuinely curious and want to see the best in people.”

Frazier said this type of authenticity cannot be faked because people can see if a person has integrity.

“Rex and Mike are legends in the Capital community, and their achievement speaks to the value of a McGeorge law degree in the Capital space and highlights the unparalleled strength of our alumni network,” O’Neal said.

Belote thinks whether practicing traditional law or engaged in other endeavors, a law degree sharpens your analytical and writing skills.

“I am a huge fan of having a law degree no matter what your aspirations are,” Belote said.

Frazier agrees that being a licensed attorney, removed all limits on what he could do in his career. He said he wanted a career where he could work in all branches of government, using the benefits of checks and balances as well as separation of powers to accomplish his client’s objectives.

“For the long run, it’s more important to lose in the right way than to win in the wrong way,” Frazier said. “There is actually a reward for playing the long game and lots of short game people may achieve a quick success while not maintaining long term success.”