Konstantine Anthony Explained

Konstantine Anthony
Birth Place:Castro Valley, California, U.S.[1]
Birth Date:[2]
Office1:Member of the Burbank City Council
Term Start1:December 14, 2020
Predecessor1:Timothy M. Murphy
Office2:Mayor of Burbank, California
Term Start2:December 20, 2022
Term End2:December 18, 2023
Predecessor2:Jess Talamantes
Successor2:Nick Schultz
Office3:Vice Mayor of Burbank, California
Term Start3:December 23, 2021
Term End3:December 20, 2022
Predecessor3:Sharon Springer
Successor3:Nick Schultz
Education:San Francisco State University
Party:Democratic
Otherparty:Democratic Socialists of America
Residence:Burbank, California
Children:1

Konstantine Anthony (born 1981) is an American politician and former actor, serving as a member of the Burbank City Council since 2020.[3] He previously served as Mayor of Burbank from 2022 to 2023.

In 2020, Anthony was elected to the Burbank City Council.[4] In March 2023, Anthony announced his campaign for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,[5] challenging Republican incumbent Kathryn Barger.[6] [7] He came third, winning 11% of the vote to Barger's 56%.

Political career

2022–present

During the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike,[8] Anthony came out in favor of the WGA and appeared multiple times on their picket lines, alongside other elected officials.[9] Konstantine has been a SAG-AFTRA member since 2006 and a member of SEIU 2015 since 2019.

Controversy

In September 2023, Konstantine Anthony was involved in an incident that attracted media coverage and public discussion. During a fundraising event hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats called Drag Queen Bingo, a video was taken that showed Anthony being spanked by a drag performer. Fox News reported the incident on September 11, 2023. The Los Angeles Times, in an article dated September 14, 2023, discussed the subsequent online debates.[10] [11]

Political positions

Anthony is a proponent of a policeless state, advocating for the abolition of police as well as the abolition of prisons. He identifies himself as a futurist, abolitionist, and a Trotskyist, stating that he believes in the restructuring of societal systems and ideologies within the framework of permanent revolution.[12]

Organizations

Outside of elected office, Anthony is involved with a number of social justice organizations. He has been part of the Burbank Advisory Council on Disabilities since 2018, and is a member of the Domestic Violence Task Force. He previously served on the Burbank Transportation Commission from 2017 to 2020.[13] He is a member of and was endorsed by Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles, in his run for Burbank City Council.[14]

Endorsements

In the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, Anthony endorsed twenty year old activist Alex Gruenenfelder.[15] [16] According to Maebe A. Girl, he endorsed her in the 2024 California's 30th congressional district election, and according to California State Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, he co-endorsed her for that seat.[17] [18] In California's 2024 United States Senate election, Anthony had previously endorsed fellow Burbank resident and U.S. representative Adam Schiff.[19] However, in late October 2023, after Schiff had released a statement in support of Israel's "right to defend itself" during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Anthony withdrew his endorsement of Schiff and declined to endorse any other candidate until Schiff would endorse peace in the region.[20] On December 11, 2023, Anthony endorsed Schiff’s opponent in the race, Rep. Barbara Lee.[21]

Personal life

Anthony has publicly identified as autistic, a factor he cites as a driving force behind his advocacy for disability rights.[22] In a Twitter post, the Burbank Republican Party highlighted this statement from Margo Rowder: "You chose to drag someone who doesn't have the money for a formal autism diagnosis and whose former schoolmates called him in his late 20s to ask if he thinks he might be autistic."[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Herenda . Devin . 2020-09-17 . City Council Candidate Profile: Konstantine Anthony . 2023-10-23 . myBurbank . en-US.
  2. 1435773026478350336. konstantineinca. Bernie Sanders won his first local election at the age of 39 in 1981, the year I was born. I also ran for local office and won at the age of 39 because I wanted to do what he did, fight for the working people of my city. Happy 80th birthday @BernieSanders, you inspire me still.. Konstantine. Anthony. September 8, 2021. October 23, 2023.
  3. Web site: Linton . Joe . Interview with Newly Elected Burbank City Councilmember Konstantine Anthony . December 21, 2020 . StreetsBlogLA . May 24, 2023.
  4. Web site: Konstantine Anthony, Mayor . . May 24, 2023.
  5. Web site: Mayor Konstantine Anthony Kicks Off Campaign for LA County Supervisor . March 29, 2023 . myBurbank . May 24, 2023.
  6. Web site: Quinton . Gavin . Mayor Makes Bid for Supervisor Seat . April 3, 2023 . . May 24, 2023.
  7. Web site: About Me . 2023-10-23 . Konstantine Anthony for LA County Supervisor . en.
  8. Web site: Sherwood . Craig . Burbank's Economy Braces for Possible Writer's Strike . April 20, 2023 . myBurbank . May 24, 2023.
  9. Web site: Quinton . Gavin . WGA Strike Grinds Production to a Halt . . May 22, 2023 . May 24, 2023.
  10. News: Fox News . September 11, 2023 . California mayor spanked with a paddle by drag queen .
  11. Web site: Drag queen's spanking of Burbank mayor in video sparks anti-LGBTQ hate . September 14, 2023 . Los Angeles Times . September 23, 2023.
  12. Web site: Democrat mayor who was spanked by drag queen wants to 'destroy' police, prisons, claims Marxism is 'the real American dream' . September 12, 2023 . Fox News . September 23, 2023.
  13. Web site: Sherwood . Craig . New Burbank City Council Members Sworn In, Anthony Elected Mayor for 2023 . December 19, 2022 . myBurbank . May 24, 2023.
  14. Web site: DSA is proud to endorse Konstantine Anthony for Burbank City Council, up for vote in Burbank, CA on Nov 3rd!! . September 30, 2020 . . . May 24, 2023.
  15. Web site: Kloczko . Justin . meet the LA mayoral candidates not fit for t.v. . April 13, 2022 . The Debaser. May 24, 2023.
  16. Anthony . Konstantine . KonstantineinCA . C'mon LA neighbors, don't let me down! . 1523344413279219713 . May 8, 2022 . January 14, 2024.
  17. Web site: Girl . Maebe A. . I'm excited to announce our first major endorsement for 2024: Mayor of Burbank, Konstantine Anthony. CA-30 includes Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, and West Hollywood. #MaebeForCongress #Burbank #Endorsement . February 14, 2023 . . May 24, 2023.
  18. Web site: Friedman . Laura . It's been an honor representing the close-knit community of #Burbank in the legislature & working closely with the city to on our shared priorities. I'm proud to announce that a majority of the City Council - @konstantineinca, @nickforburbank, @nikki_in_burbank are endorsing me to continue representing Burbank as its next Congressmember! . February 14, 2023 . . May 24, 2023.
  19. The Democratic Plot To Take Down Their Impeachment Hero. Voght. Tara. . February 18, 2023 . April 27, 2023 . en-US.
  20. Web site: Burbank mayor withdraws endorsement of Schiff over Israel-Hamas war . KTLA 5 . Kiszla . Cameron . October 31, 2023 . November 1, 2023 . en-US.
  21. News: December 11, 2023 . California mayor flips Senate endorsement from Schiff to Lee, citing Gaza stance . December 11, 2023 . . en-US.
  22. Web site: January 22, 2023 . Autistic Person Is Mayor of Burbank Dreier Roundtable . 2023-10-23 . Claremont McKenna College.
  23. 1718094485157253513 . BurbankGOP . Konstantine Anthony claims he is autistic but this contradicts that claim. Margo Rowder is listed on Wikipedia as his wife. Who is telling the truth? . 2023-10-27 . Burbank Republican Party.