James Hahn

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James Hahn
James Hahn
Order	40th Mayor of Los Angeles
Term of Office	2001–2005
Predecessor	Richard Riordan
Successor	Antonio Villaraigosa
Date of Birth	July 3, 1950
Place of Birth	Los Angeles, California
First Lady	Monica Hahn (divorced)
Profession	Politician
City Attorney	Rocky Delgadillo
City Controller	Laura N. Chick
Political Party	Democrat

James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California (2001-2005). He did not win a second term in the 2005 mayoral election. He is the son of the late Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, who was known as an ardent supporter of civil rights.

1 Biography
2 Political career
- 2.1 2005 Re-election Campaign
3 Post mayoral career
4 Life highlights
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Biography

James Hahn was born on July 3, 1950 in Los Angeles, and raised in the Morningside Park district of South Los Angeles. Hahn attended Manchester Avenue Elementary School, Daniel Freeman Elementary School, Horace Mann Junior High School, and Lutheran High School.

He graduated from the Seaver College of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California magna cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in English and a minor in journalism in 1972. He received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law in 1975. A Pepperdine University news release stated that in 1994, he was selected as the School of Law's Distinguished Alumnus. Also written was that while at Seaver College, he assisted in the development of a paralegal program for the Family Law Center of the Legal Aid Society and that during law school, he clerked for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.

Upon graduation in 1975 until 1979, Hahn worked as a prosecutor and deputy city attorney in the office of the City Attorney. From 1979-1981, he was in private practice with long time friend Robert Horner.

In 1981 he was elected the fifth and youngest City Controller of Los Angeles and served until 1985. Hahn then went on to serve a record 16 years, 1985-2001, as Los Angeles City Attorney. Also written in a Pepperdine University news release was that with 358 attorneys, and a support staff of 346, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office is one of the largest municipal law offices in the nation and has branch offices in 21 locations citywide.

James Hahn was elected in 2001 to serve as the 40th mayor of Los Angeles but was not re-elected in 2005.

While Mayor, Hahn led two successful trade trips, one to Asia and one to Mexico.

In Mexico, Hahn received an airport security briefing at Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport and held meetings with Mexican business and airlines executives and Mexican President Vicente Fox. As a result of his Mexico trip, AeroMexico airlines decided to fly out of Ontario International Airport, providing a more regional approach to air service in the Los Angeles area. In addition, he secured a deal with Grupo Gigante to open five of their stores in Los Angeles to improve the economy. He also set up a Mexico Trade Desk within the Mayor’s Office of International Trade to increase opportunities.

In his trip to Asia, Mayor Hahn met with South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, Beijing Mayor Liu Qi and Shanghai Mayor Chen Liang Yu. Mayor Hahn received the medal of honorary citizenship from Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak at Seoul City Hall. In Beijing, Hahn established an agreement concerning the 2008 Olympics, created trade offices in both cities, designating Los Angeles as gateway to Beijing and allowing Los Angeles firms to be hired to oversee the renovation of the Beijing airport. Mayor Hahn, working with the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, launched a program in Japan called "See My LA" with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Dodger Kazuhisa Ishii. In Korea, he partnered with Korean soccer star Hong Myung-bo to encourage Koreans to come to Los Angeles to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Koreans in Los Angeles. Both campaigns were aimed to increase tourism from Japan and Korea. In addition, Hahn established an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to exchange rare and exotic animals to be displayed at the Los Angeles Zoo. To improve regional air service in LA, Hahn convinced EVA airlines to fly out of Ontario International Airport. The most prominent agreement was with the Port of LA and the Ports of Beijing and Shanghai, expanding service to the Port of LA, ensuring Asian cargo ships are plugged into natural power, and sharing technology and resources between the ports.

As part of his duties as mayor, Hahn was a member of the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and advocated for better public transportation for the county. During the aftermath of the events of September 11, the US Conference of Mayors appointed Hahn to chair a task force of US Mayors on Aviation Security.

On June 28, 2005, shortly before the inauguration of his successor, Hahn was honored in the John Ferraro Council Chambers of City Hall by the City Council and Fire Department for 24 years of elected public service.

Hahn is from a family of public servants. His father, Kenny Hahn, served as an LA City Councilman and as an LA County Supervisor for a record 40 years. Hahn's uncle, Gordon Hahn, was a state assemblyman and an LA City Councilman and another uncle, John Hahn, was assistant county clerk. His cousin, Dale Hahn, is a Superior Court judge in San Mateo County. His sister, Janice Hahn, was reelected in 2005 as an LA City Councilwoman for the 15th district.

Hahn is a member of the Redondo Beach Church of Christ.

Hahn lives in the Los Angeles community of San Pedro with his two children Karina and Jackson; he was formerly married to Monica Hahn and Joni Hawley.

[edit] Political career

Hahn served as a deputy city attorney in the City Attorney's office from 1975-1979 and was in private practice from 1979-1981. From 1981-1985, he served as the City Controller of Los Angeles and later served as City Attorney from 1985-2001 before defeating former State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, a fellow Democrat, by 9% in the 2001 mayoral election to become the 40th mayor of the city of Los Angeles. Hahn sought a second term as mayor, with the runoff election being held on May 17, 2005, but he was defeated by Villaragoisa.

[edit] 2005 Re-election Campaign

In the 2005 mayoral election, James Hahn was defeated for a second term by challenger Antonio Villaraigosa. Villaraigosa had been a union organizer, State Assemblyman and Speaker of the State Assembly, and was then a Los Angeles City Councilman. Hahn had defeated him to become Mayor four years earlier in the 2001 election.

In the March 8, 2005 general election, Hahn placed second to Villaraigosa; placing ahead of former Speaker of the Assembly Bob Hertzberg, Councilman Bernard Parks, State Senator Richard Alarcon, and about seven lesser known challengers. As the top two vote getters, Villaraigosa and Hahn proceeded to the runoff election held on May 17, 2005. In that election, Hahn lost to Villaraigosa.

[edit] Post mayoral career

After leaving office, Hahn accepted the position of a managing director and partner at the firm Chadwick Saylor & Company, which has offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

On October 19, 2005, Hahn took part in a discussion entitled "The State of Los Angeles", sponsored by a non-profit organization called "Days of Dialogue". The other panelists were former Mayor Richard Riordan and current Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the only other living mayors of the city of Los Angeles. "Days of Dialogue" was founded after the notorious O.J. Simpson trial in order to encourage discussions on key issues in the Los Angeles region. It is currently chaired by California State Assemblyman and former Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas.

On Monday, December 12, 2005, Hahn delivered a eulogy at the funeral of long time city councilman Marvin Braude. On January 7, 2006, Hahn attended and spoke at a memorial service at Los Angeles City Hall and at a private residence for former County Federation of Labor leader Bill Robertson. Since leaving office, he has also attended a number of other events of significance.

On March 1, 2006, it was announced that through Chadwick Saylor & Company, Hahn will become CEO of Los Angeles Development Partners, L.P. (LADP). The partnership consists of an 800 million dollar fund managed by Chadwick Saylor & Company with numerous investors. Its goal is to develop affordable housing and other economic development projects around transit lines, including the Metrolink and Metro Rail. The projects will be completed by unionists. Hahn will be in charge of all of the operations of the entire 800 million dollar fund.

On September 20, 2006, more than a year after leaving office, a Steve Lopez column ran in the Los Angeles Times explaining Hahn's new life in the private sector. Hahn said that he is now as happy as ever and for the first time in decades, can truly enjoy his city. He gets to spend more time with his son and daughter and has been in a steady relationship with a woman for over a year. He also enjoys his new work getting unions to invest money in local projects around transit lines to relieve traffic and smog [1].

[edit] Life highlights

Pepperdine University, B.A. English (Minor- Journalism), 1972
Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D., 1975
Deputy City Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney, 1975-1979
Private Practice (With Robert Horner), 1979-1981
Los Angeles City Controller, 1981-1985
Los Angeles City Attorney, 1985-2001
Mayor of Los Angeles, 2001-2005
Managing Director, Chadwick Saylor & Company, 2005-Current
CEO, Los Angeles Development Partners, 2006-Current

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Hahn for Mayor 2001
Hahn for Mayor 2005
Chadwick Saylor & Company James Hahn, Managing Director
League of Women Voters of California, 2001 Election
League of Women Voters of California, 2005 Election

Preceded by: Richard Riordan	Mayor of Los Angeles, California 2001–2005	Succeeded by: Antonio Villaraigosa
Preceded by: Ira Reiner	City Attorney of Los Angeles, California 1985–2001	Succeeded by: Rocky Delgadillo
Preceded by: Ira Reiner	City Controller of Los Angeles, California 1981–1985	Succeeded by: Rick Tuttle