Don Knabe

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Donald R. Knabe (born October 15, 1943 in Illinois) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, serving the Fourth District, a crescent shaped district that covers the coastline from Marina Del Rey southward to Long Beach, and southeastern Los Angeles County to Diamond Bar.

Knabe attended Graceland University and graduated with a degree in business administration. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, Knabe and his new wife, the former Julie Gillbreath, settled in Cerritos, California. The Knabes owned a small business, and Knabe entered politics in 1980 when he was elected to the Cerritos City Council on the basis of growth issues. Knabe took a job with Supervisor Deane Dana's office in 1982, soon advancing to chief of staff. Knabe retired from the City Council in 1988 and ascended to his boss's position in 1996 when Dana retired from public life. The Knabes have two sons, Curt and Matt, both graduates of Pepperdine University who have worked in their father's office in the past.

A moderate Republican, Knabe is most noted for instituting a safe haven law or baby hatch in 2002, where mothers can leave their baby at a fire station or hospital within 72 hours of their birth. The program was instituted after several publicized cases of child abandonment and infanticide. The program was quickly adopted statewide.