Mike Feuer

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Mike Feuer
Mike Feuer
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 42nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
December 4, 2006 [1]
Preceded by Paul Koretz
Born 1958
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse Gail Ruderman Feuer [2]
Alma mater Harvard University
Profession Politician, Lawyer
Religion Jewish

Michael Feuer (born 1958)[3] is a California politician and lawyer. He now represents the 42nd Assembly District which includes Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and part of Los Angeles in the California State Assembly. He was elected in 2006 on the Democratic ticket.

Feuer served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 5th district from 1995 to 2001. He lost in the primary for city attorney to Rocky Delgadillo in 2001. Prior to his time on the council, Feuer was the executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services - The House of Justice and was a lawyer in private practice. He received both a Bachelors degree and a law degree from Harvard University. Feuer is married with two children.

Contents

[edit] Before Politics

Feuer was born and raised in San Bernardino, California. Feuer's first electoral victory came in fourth grade when he won his first election to become fourth-grade president at Parkside Elementary School, in a racially mixed public school.[4] He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1976 and was class valedictorian. He had the standard interests of any young boy growing up. He was a fan of the California Angels and played basketball in high school. One of Feuer's first forays into "elective" office occurred at Golden Valley Junior High School. He ran for class president and the initial election resulted in a literal tie with his opponent. A few days later, the staff of the school decided to have another election, which Mike won.

Feuer received both a Bachelors and Law degree from Harvard University.[5] He served on the Harvard Law School Board of Overseers Visiting Committee. Feuer graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Harvard University and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He has practiced law at two of California’s leading firms and served as a judicial clerk on the California Supreme Court.[5]

Feuer was the executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services - The House of Justice and was a lawyer in private practice.[5][6] The Los Angeles Daily Journal declared that Feuer transformed Bet Tzedek into a “national success story” by establishing programs to help Alzheimer’s patients, victims of the Northridge earthquake and L.A. civil unrest, and Holocaust survivors striving to obtain restitution.[5] Mr. Feuer oversaw free legal representation for more than 50,000 elderly, poor and disabled clients on issues including health care, nursing home abuse, consumer fraud, and slum housing.[5]

[edit] City Council

From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Feuer served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 5th district. He was elected in a special election to replace Zev Yaroslavsky, who had run for supervisor. Feuer ran against Zev Yaroslavsky's wife Barbara Yaroslavsky.[4] While on the Council, Feuer led the Council’s committees on business tax reform, children’s and seniors’ issues and ethics in government.[5] He authored laws and created new programs to combat gun violence, expand decent, affordable housing, protect seniors from elder abuse, advance the rights of women and girls, enhance environmental quality, improve emergency services and public safety, promote better race relations and reform City government. Feuer chaired the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, delivering balanced multi-billion dollar budgets and intervening to ensure meals and transportation for seniors in need, jobs for disadvantaged youth, basic services for Los Angeles’ neighborhoods and funding to promote literacy.[5] Feuer was termed out of his city council seat in 2001.[5][7][8]

[edit] City Attorney's Race and after

In 2001, he ran for City Attorney but lost to Rocky Delgadillo with 47.6% of the vote.[9] Feuer collected numerous endorsements including the LA Times.[10] Feuer had placed first in the democratic primary for the position with 39% to Delgadillo's 38%.[4] Afterward, he worked in private practice and taught at the UCLA School of Public Affairs. He authored dozens of articles on children, seniors, government reform, violence prevention, consumer rights, the justice system and the environment in California’s leading newspapers. He has served as a commentator on National Public Radio member KPCC.[11]

[edit] Race for Assembly

Mr. Feuer ran against West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land in the 2006 Democratic Primary. Feuer was endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, outgoing 42nd Assembly member Paul Koretz, and the Sierra Club.[12][13][14] The Los Angeles Times highlighted Feuer's experience and policy skill that would allow him to be an effective legislator. Land was endorsed by the California Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.[15] Feuer won the Democratic nomination with over 50% of the vote.[16] With over 50% of the voters registered Democrat in Assembly District 42, Feuer was assured an easy victory in the general election.[17] Feuer won the general election against Republican Steven Mark Sion with over 72%.[18]

[edit] Assembly Member

On December 4, 2006, Feuer was appointed by Speaker Fabian Nunez to Chairman of the Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Information Technology and Transportation.[19] Feuer also is a member of the Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee, and the Select Committees on Rail Transportation and Prison Construction and Operation.[5] As a freshman, Feuer introduced over 20 bills. Bill topics included transit oriented development, improvements on the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, reducing DUI ticket masking, nursing home safety and information, and putting a 7% cap on UC fee increases. The most publicized of Feuer's bills was AB 1471 that requires all semi-automatic gun cartridges sold in California after 2010 to be microstamped in two locations. Feuer delivered the June 1, 2007 Democratic weekly radio address concerning that bill. (Media:http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20070601RadioAddressEnglishGunsFeuer.mp3 Radio Address) Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger approved Feuer's microstamping bill and his bill on DUI ticket masking on October 14, 2007 but vetoed several other of Feuer's bills including those on nursing homes, consumer rebates, and court fees.[20]

[edit] Trivia

In some political circles, he has been mistaken for the pop culture icon Borat. He is the assemblyman who represents California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[edit] Political offices held

Preceded by
Zev Yaroslavsky		 Los Angeles City Councilman
5th district
1994—2001		 Succeeded by
Jack Weiss
Preceded by
Paul Koretz		 California Assembly
42nd district
2007—present		 Succeeded by
—

[edit] References

  1. ^ League of California Cities. "2007 California State Legislature Convenes." Priority Focus. Copyright © 2006 League of California Cities. Accessed on August 17. 2007.
  2. ^ California Manufacturers & Technology Association. "CMTA legislative database: Mike Feuer Assembly District 42, Democrat." Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  3. ^ Article in the LA Times titled "Candidates Spar for Seats of Democratic Legislators" published on May 25, 2006, on page B1, in the California Metro; Part B; Metro Desk section, written by Deborah Schoch. It states: "A former Los Angeles city councilman, Feuer, 48, spent eight years as executive ...", thereby sourcing the 1958 birth year given above.
  4. ^ a b c A Matter of Integrity by Tugend, Tom. Jewish Journal. May 11, 2001. © 2006-7 The Jewish Journal. All Rights Reserved. Accessed August 17, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i California Assembly Biography Accessed August 17, 2007.
  6. ^ Former Los Angeles City Councilman, Michael Feuer, Joins Morrison & Foerster in Business Wire on Nov 13, 2001 from FindArticles.com -- sources starting date for Bet Tzedek work.
  7. ^ Riordan's Silence in City Attorney Race May Be at End by Fine, Howard. In Los Angeles Business Journal. March 12, 2001.
  8. ^ Open for Business - Los Angeles City Council published in Los Angeles Business Journal on June 25, 2001 from FindArticles.com -- provides date for Feuer's leaving city council.
  9. ^ Official Election Results: June 5, 2001 City of Los Angeles General Municipal & Consolidated Elections. Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  10. ^ Villaraigosa and Feuer Take Endorsement Sweepstakes... by Fine, Howard. Los Angeles Business Journal. May 28, 2001. Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  11. ^ Feuer goes back to roots to grow his new practice - Law published by the Los Angeles Business Journal on Nov 19, 2001 by Amanda Bronstad from FindArticles.com] -- sources his post-city council work, and loss to Delgadillo.
  12. ^ State Assembly: Feuer, Krekorian, Murray, Eng: Democratic primary endorsements in four crucial districts by The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board. The Los Angeles Times. May 1, 2006. Copyright 2007 Los Angeles Times. Accessed August 17, 2007.
  13. ^ Mike Feuer for 42nd – Exclusive Interview. Gierach, Ryan. WEHONEWS.COM. Accessed on August 17, 2007
  14. ^ Koretz Drops Bomb on Assembly Race by Gierach, Ryan. Feb. 16, 2006. WEHONEWS.COM. Accessed on August 17, 2007
  15. ^ Abbe Land's candidate website. Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  16. ^ California Secretary of State. "2006 Primary Results.
  17. ^ District Profile. California Assembly. "ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 42." Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  18. ^ California Secretary of State. November 7, 2006 General Election Results. Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  19. ^ Assemblyman Mike Feuer Appointed Chair on Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Transportation. Assembly Member Mike Feuer News Release. December 4, 2006. Accessed on August 17, 2007.
  20. ^ Leg Info Search Feuer and 2007-2008.