| President of the Los Angeles City Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Member of | Los Angeles City Council |
| Appointer | Elected by members of the City Council |
| Inaugural holder | Jacob Frankenfield |
| Formation | February 25, 1889 |
| Deputy | Marqueece Harris-Dawson (President pro tempore) Bob Blumenfield (Assistant president pro tempore) |
The President of the Los Angeles City Council serves as the presiding officer of the Los Angeles City Council since its creation in 1889. They chair meetings, assign council members to committees, and manage parliamentary procedures, including ruling on motions. In the absence of the mayor from the city, the president assumes the role of acting mayor. Since the shift in election years in 2020, the president is elected during the first scheduled council meeting in January of even-numbered years.
Paul Krekorian has served as the President of the Los Angeles City Council since October 18, 2022, following his election by council members. This election occurred after the resignation of Nury Martinez on October 10, 2022, due to her involvement in an audio scandal. Krekorian succeeded Mitch O'Farrell, who had been acting President in his capacity as President pro tempore since Martinez's resignation. As of June 20, 2023, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Bob Blumenfield hold the positions of President Pro Tempore and Assistant President Pro Tempore, respectively. Harris-Dawson succeeded Curren Price, who resigned from the position on June 13, 2023, and Blumenfield filled a vacancy that had existed since December 14, 2020.
History
editCommon Council
editThe office of the President of the Los Angeles City Council was established on April 4, 1850, alongside the office of the Mayor of Los Angeles, under The Act of Incorporation, as the city grew from a remote town of 5,000 residents to a city of 15,000 residents. The first president of the Common Council was David W. Alexander, who held the position from its inception until he resigned on September 25, 1851.
From December 18, 1874, to December 5, 1878, the Mayor also acted as the president of the council, with Prudent Beaudry, Frederick Alexander MacDougall, and Bernard Cohn serving in both offices.
During this time, three presidents have acted as acting mayors of Los Angeles due to vacancies: Manuel Requena in 1855 and 1866, Wallace Woodworth in 1860-61, and Bernard Cohn in 1878.
Creation of the city council
editNew city charter
editRole and powers
editThe President and the President pro tempore are elected by the members of the city council after the seating of the newly elected council members, typically right after the new members are seated. However, the council can change its leadership at any time with a majority of votes. If the Mayor of Los Angeles is incapacitated or the office is vacant, the council president becomes acting mayor. If the council president becomes incapacitated, the president pro tempore becomes interim President until a new election.[1] The president has the authority to set the agenda, determine the makeup of each council committee, and set the tone for the council's relationship with the mayor. Additionally, the president has the power to decide when and how policy proposals are vetted at public meetings.[2][3]
- Prior to 1878, the president was the ex-officio city auditor, with the president being able to appoint members to local commissions.
Two former presidents of the city council, John D. Works and Alex Padilla, have gone on to serve as U.S. Senators. One former president, Eric Garcetti, has gone on to become the Mayor of Los Angeles. Two sitting presidents, James Simpson Conwell and John Ferraro, have died in office.
List of presidents
edit
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List of presidents pro tempore
edit| Portrait | Name Council district–Residence (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Party | Assistant President Pro Tempore Party |
President Party |
Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term start | Term end | |||||||||
|
Thomas D. Shepard 3rd–Woodland Hills (1925–2012) |
July 1, 1965 | June 30, 1967 | Republican | Vacant July 1, 1965 – June 30, 1981 |
L. E. Timberlake Democratic |
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|
John S. Gibson Jr. 15th–San Pedro (1902–1987) |
July 1, 1967 | June 30, 1969 | Democratic | ||||||
|
Billy G. Mills 8th–Jefferson Park (born 1929) |
July 1, 1969 | June 30, 1973 | Democratic | John S. Gibson Jr. Democratic |
|||||
|
Robert J. Stevenson 13th–Hollywood (1915–1975) |
July 1, 1973 | June 30, 1975 | Democratic | ||||||
|
John Ferraro 4th–Hancock Park (1924–2001) |
July 1, 1975 | June 30, 1977 | Democratic | ||||||
|
Joel Wachs 2nd–Studio City (born 1939) |
July 1, 1977 | June 30, 1981 | Republican | Ernani Bernardi Democratic |
John Ferraro Democratic |
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|
Peggy Stevenson 2nd–Studio City (1924–2014) |
July 1, 1981 | June 30, 1985 | Democratic | Joel Wachs Republican |
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| Pat Russell Democratic | ||||||||||
|
Joan Milke Flores 15th–San Pedro (1936–2020) |
July 1, 1985 | June 30, 1987 | Republican | ||||||
|
Marvin Braude 11th–Brentwood (1920–2005) |
July 1, 1987 | June 30, 1995 | Democratic | John Ferraro Democratic |
|||||
| Joan Milke Flores Republican | ||||||||||
| Richard Alatorre Democratic | ||||||||||
|
Joel Wachs 2nd–Studio City (born 1939) |
July 1, 1995 | June 30, 1999 | Independent | Mike Hernandez Democratic |
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| Ruth Galanter Democratic | ||||||||||
|
Ruth Galanter 6th–Venice (born 1941) |
July 1, 1999 | June 30, 2001 | Democratic | Rudy Svorinich Republican |
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| Vacant April 17, 2001 – June 30, 2001 | ||||||||||
|
Mark Ridley-Thomas 8th–Leimert Park (born 1954) |
July 1, 2001 | December 1, 2002 | Democratic | Cindy Miscikowski Democratic |
Alex Padilla Democratic |
[G] | |||
| Vacant December 1, 2002 – July 1, 2003 | ||||||||||
|
Cindy Miscikowski 11th–Brentwood (born 1948) |
July 1, 2003 | June 30, 2005 | Democratic | Eric Garcetti Democratic |
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|
Wendy Greuel 2nd–Studio City (born 1961) |
July 1, 2005 | June 30, 2009 | Democratic | Tony Cárdenas Democratic |
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| Jan Perry Democratic |
Eric Garcetti Democratic | |||||||||
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|
Jan Perry 9th–Miracle Mile (born 1955) |
July 1, 2009 | November 2, 2011 | Democratic | Dennis Zine Independent |
[H] | ||||
| Vacant November 2, 2011 – January 3, 2012 | ||||||||||
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|
Ed Reyes 1st–Mount Washington (born 1959) |
January 3, 2012 | June 30, 2013 | Democratic | Tom LaBonge Democratic |
Herb Wesson Democratic |
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|
Mitchell Englander 12th–Granada Hills (born 1970) |
July 1, 2013 | December 31, 2018 | Republican | ||||||
| Nury Martinez Democratic | ||||||||||
| Vacant December 31, 2018 – January 15, 2019 | ||||||||||
|
Nury Martinez 6th–Sun Valley (born 1973) |
January 15, 2019 | January 5, 2020 | Democratic | Joe Buscaino Democratic |
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|
Joe Buscaino 15th–San Pedro (born 1974) |
January 5, 2020 | September 21, 2021 | Democratic | David Ryu Democratic |
Nury Martinez Democratic |
[I][J] | |||
| Vacant December 14, 2020 – June 20, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Vacant September 21, 2021 – October 1, 2021 | ||||||||||
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|
Mitch O'Farrell 13th–Echo Park (born 1960) |
October 1, 2021 | October 25, 2022 | Democratic | [17][K] | |||||
| Vacant October 10, 2022 – October 18, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Paul Krekorian Democratic | ||||||||||
|
Curren Price 9th–South Park (born 1950) |
October 25, 2022 | June 13, 2023 | Democratic | [18][L] | |||||
| Vacant June 13, 2023 – June 20, 2023 | ||||||||||
|
Marqueece Harris-Dawson 8th–West Park Terrace (born 1950) |
June 20, 2023 | Incumbent | Democratic | Bob Blumenfield Democratic |
[20] | ||||
Notes
edit- ^ a b Ferraro died on April 17, 2001, from cancer. President pro tempore Ruth Galanter became acting president until the election of Padilla, who defeated her.[4][5]
- ^ Padilla resigned to focus on his run for the California State Senate.[6] Garcetti, who had previously attempted to unseat Padilla as Council President, was elected on November 29, 2005, to ensure a smooth transition.[7][8]
- ^ Garcetti resigned to focus on his campaign for Mayor.[9] With Garcetti's backing, Wesson was elected on November 23, 2011, to ensure a smooth transition.[10]
- ^ Wesson resigned to focus on his campaign for Los Angeles County Supervisor. With Wesson's backing, Martinez was elected on December 3, 2019, to ensure a smooth transition.[11]
- ^ a b Martinez resigned as council president and later as a council member after a audio recording was leaked involving her and two other council members.[12] President pro tempore Mitch O'Farrell became acting president until the election of Paul Krekorian.[13]
- ^ Krekorian will resign on September 20, 2024, to allow Harris-Dawson, elected on May 28, 2024, to have a smooth transition due to term limits.[14]
- ^ Ridley-Thomas resigned as a councilmember to become a California State Assemblymember.
- ^ Perry resigned as President pro tempore, citing dissatisfaction with the negotiations over the council presidency and the process for redrawing council district boundaries.[10]
- ^ Ryu was defeated by Nithya Raman in the city council election, leaving the office vacant until Blumenfield was elected on June 20, 2023.[15]
- ^ Buscaino resigned as pro tempore to focus on his run for Mayor, amid efforts to oust him due to "disparaging remarks" about other members. O'Farrell was elected on September 28.[16][17]
- ^ O'Farrell resigned as pro tempore to ensure a smooth transition with Price, who had previously interested in become President after Martinez's resignation.[18]
- ^ Price resigned as pro tempore following charges of embezzlement and perjury.[19]
References
edit- ^ Sonenshein, Raphael J. (2006). Los Angeles: Structure of a City Government (PDF). Los Angeles: League of Women Voters of Los Angeles. ISBN 0-9668991-1-3.
- ^ Zahniser, David; Smith, Dakota (May 18, 2024). "Behind the scenes, the search for the next L.A. City Council president is under way". Los Angeles Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Smith, Dakota (December 3, 2019). "Nury Martinez chosen as first Latina president of the L.A. City Council". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Whitaker, Barbara (July 7, 2001). "PUBLIC LIVES; A Quick Climb Up the Los Angeles Political Ladder". The New York Times.
- ^ Daunt, Tina (July 4, 2001). "Alex Padilla, 28, Defeats Galanter to Become President of City Council". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Orlov, Rick} (November 29, 2005). "Garcetti, Padilla to hash out council duties". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ Orlov, Rick (August 29, 2007). "Council presidency transfer could be smooth after all". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ "Garcetti Chosen for Council's Top Spot". Los Angeles Business Journal. November 29, 2005.
- ^ Bernstein, Sharon (November 18, 2011). "Garcetti to Resign as Council President". NBC Los Angeles.
- ^ a b Zahniser, David (November 18, 2011). "Eric Garcetti backs Herb Wesson to succeed him as council chief". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Nury Martinez Makes History As LA's First Latina City Council President". CBS News. December 3, 2019.
- ^ Antczak, John (October 10, 2022). "Los Angeles Council president resigns after racist remarks". Associated Press.
- ^ Cowan, Jill; Hubler, Shawn (October 12, 2022). "Los Angeles City Councilwoman Resigns Amid Uproar Over Racist Remarks". The New York Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Marqueece Harris-Dawson to become LA City Council's next president". NBC Los Angeles. May 28, 2024.
- ^ Folven, Edwin (June 21, 2023). "Harris-Dawson elevated to new City Council leadership role". Beverly Press.
- ^ Zahniser, David (September 28, 2021). "L.A. Council reshuffles leadership team, giving Mitch O'Farrell its No. 2 post". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b "Councilman Mitch O'Farrell Elected President Pro Tempore Of LA City Council". CBS News. September 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Curren Price nominated to serve as president pro tempore of LA City Council". CBS News. October 21, 2022.
- ^ Queally, James; Wick, Julia; Smith, Dakota (June 13, 2023). "L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price charged with embezzlement and perjury". Los Angeles Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "LA City Council has a new president pro tempore, replacing Curren Price". CBS News. June 20, 2023.