Richard Katz (politician) explained

Richard Katz
Office:Minority Leader of the California Assembly
Term:September 14, 1995 - November 30, 1996
Preceded:Willie Brown
Succeeded:Curt Pringle
State Assembly1:California
District1:39th
Term1:December 1, 1980 - November 30, 1996
Preceded1:J. Robert Hayes
Succeeded1:Tony Cárdenas
Birth Date:16 August 1950
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California
Party:Democratic

Richard Katz (born August 16, 1950)[1] is an American former politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Katz served in the California State Assembly for the 39th district from 1980 until 1996. Katz was Minority Leader of the Assembly between 1995 and 1996 being the most recent Democrat to hold the office, as Democrats have held a majority since 1996. As democratic leader he led the effort to take back the house in California. He also ran in the 1993 Los Angeles mayoral election, with James Carville serving as a consultant for his campaign.[2] He still has an extremely active role in political consulting throughout California.

1998 Election

Katz attempted a legislative comeback in 1998, narrowly losing the primary for the 20th Senate district to LA City Councilman Richard Alarcon.[3]

Post Assembly career

Katz was a major proponent of the San Fernando Valley secession movement—cochairing the failed Measure F, an initiative effort that appeared on the 2002 ballot.[4]

An ally of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, he was Villaraigosa's public appointee to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board and Metrolink board chair. Although he supported City Controller Wendy Greuel's candidacy for mayor in 2013, Katz was appointed to the city planning commission by the successful candidate, Mayor Eric Garcetti.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Join California - Richard Katz. joincalifornia.com.
  2. News: Fleeman . Michael . November 23, 1992 . A stampede of candidates entering the Race for L.A. mayor . The Associated Press . Los Angeles . February 15, 2021.
  3. http://www.laweekly.com/1999-04-08/news/our-choices-in-the-april-13-l-a-city-election/ Our Choices in the April 13 L.A. City Election
  4. http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0702/0702lavalley.htm Breaking away? L.A.'s coming vote on independence for the valley
  5. News: Zahniser . David . Garcetti puts two major Wendy Greuel supporters on planning panel . Los Angeles Times . September 30, 2013 .