Mitchell Englander
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Englander is the newest member of the Los Angeles City Council, since July 1, 2011. He represents the northeast and east San Fernando Valley.
. In 1994, robbers shot and killed Michael, and the same day Englander's older sister, Natalie, fell into a coma after suffering an asthma attack. She was "rushed to an emergency room where the doors were mistakenly locked." She "awoke with brain damage. Mitch and his wife cared for her for 10 years before she 'died in my arms,' he said."
Englander worked with his uncle, Harvey Englander, a political consultant. Mitchell is a Republican, but was identified as a Democratic political consultant in 1998, He graduated from the Los Angeles Police Academy
in 2005 and became an officer in the police reserve
. He has served on the boards of directors of the North Valley YMCA, New Horizons, San Fernando Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce, Providence Holy Cross Hospital, West Valley Boys and Girls Club, Winnetka Community Foundation, Devonshire Police Activities League and Valley Region High School No. 4 in Granada Hills.
Mitchell and Jayne Englander have two daughters, Lindsey and Lauren. They live in Granada Hills.
In 2009, Englander was chief of staff
to City Councilman Greig Smith
in Los Angeles City Council District 12
, in the northeast and east San Fernando Valley
, when he began his election campaign to succeed his boss, who announced he would retire. Calling himself "fiscally conservative," Englander said he was encouraged to run by Assembly Member Keith Richman
. He said that the city "must have a realistic and sustainable pension system that does not threaten the core functions of local government," and he proposed "cutting the salaries of all department heads unless they meet reasonable performance standards."
Noting that Englander was the "consummate City Hall insider," the Los Angeles Times endorsed him as "the best of several good choices." An editorial
noted that Englander's "proximity" to Greig Smith had "clearly brought him advantages in fund-raising," with more than $440,000 already raised, "which is 10 times as much as his closest rival (and more than any other candidate for city office this election)." The Times said that Englander had served as Smith's "proxy" and "now claims to have played the leading role in a number of Smith's accomplishments." The Daily News endorsed him as well, saying that Smith presented "common-sense ideas to reform government, such as cutting general managers' base salaries but awarding bonuses to those who provide excellent service on a tight budget."
Englander was elected in the March 8, 2011, primary by 57.74% of the vote.
Biography
Englander was born about 1971. According to an interview with the Los Angeles Daily News, the boy's parents separated when he was 5 years old, and his mother, Linda, a real-estate agent, "worked two jobs but lost a home to foreclosure." They lived in Canoga Park with an uncle, Michael, whose janitorial firm Englander worked for as a teenager. Englander attended college in Arizona but did not finish because he had to return to California to care for his mother, who died of a brain tumorBrain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
. In 1994, robbers shot and killed Michael, and the same day Englander's older sister, Natalie, fell into a coma after suffering an asthma attack. She was "rushed to an emergency room where the doors were mistakenly locked." She "awoke with brain damage. Mitch and his wife cared for her for 10 years before she 'died in my arms,' he said."
Englander worked with his uncle, Harvey Englander, a political consultant. Mitchell is a Republican, but was identified as a Democratic political consultant in 1998, He graduated from the Los Angeles Police Academy
Police Academy
Police Academy is a series of American comedy films, the first six of which were made in the 1980s. The seventh and to date last installment, Mission to Moscow, was released in 1994. The series opened with Police Academy which started with the premise that a new mayor had announced a policy...
in 2005 and became an officer in the police reserve
Auxiliary police
Auxiliary police or special constables in England) are usually the part-time reserves of a regular police force. They may be armed or unarmed. They may be unpaid volunteers or paid members of the police service with which they are affiliated...
. He has served on the boards of directors of the North Valley YMCA, New Horizons, San Fernando Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce, Providence Holy Cross Hospital, West Valley Boys and Girls Club, Winnetka Community Foundation, Devonshire Police Activities League and Valley Region High School No. 4 in Granada Hills.
Mitchell and Jayne Englander have two daughters, Lindsey and Lauren. They live in Granada Hills.
Elections
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 2011.In 2009, Englander was chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to City Councilman Greig Smith
Greig Smith
Greig Smith is an American politician. He is a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 12th District, which includes Granada Hills, Northridge and other parts of the Western San Fernando Valley. He was elected to the LA City Council in 2003 defeating LA School Board member Julie Kornstein in...
in Los Angeles City Council District 12
Los Angeles City Council District 12
Los Angeles City Council District 12 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. It encompasses the far northwestern section of the city in the San Fernando Valley. Mitchell Englander is the current officeholder....
, in the northeast and east San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, when he began his election campaign to succeed his boss, who announced he would retire. Calling himself "fiscally conservative," Englander said he was encouraged to run by Assembly Member Keith Richman
Keith Richman
Keith Stuart Richman was a California Republican politician. From 2000 to 2006, he served in the California State Assembly representing the 38th Assembly District based in Northwest Los Angeles County....
. He said that the city "must have a realistic and sustainable pension system that does not threaten the core functions of local government," and he proposed "cutting the salaries of all department heads unless they meet reasonable performance standards."
Noting that Englander was the "consummate City Hall insider," the Los Angeles Times endorsed him as "the best of several good choices." An editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
noted that Englander's "proximity" to Greig Smith had "clearly brought him advantages in fund-raising," with more than $440,000 already raised, "which is 10 times as much as his closest rival (and more than any other candidate for city office this election)." The Times said that Englander had served as Smith's "proxy" and "now claims to have played the leading role in a number of Smith's accomplishments." The Daily News endorsed him as well, saying that Smith presented "common-sense ideas to reform government, such as cutting general managers' base salaries but awarding bonuses to those who provide excellent service on a tight budget."
Englander was elected in the March 8, 2011, primary by 57.74% of the vote.
Highlights
- Campaign finance. One of Englander's first council actions was to file a motion proposing that the campaign-finance limit of $500 per donor be raised.
- Arizona boycott. On October 21, 2011, Englander called for an end to the city's boycott of Arizona, which was voted in May 2010 after that state adopted a law requiring law-enforcement officers to ask for proof of citizenship from anyone reasonably stopped and suspected to be in the United States illegally. He said he would pay his own way to attend a National League of Cities conference in Phoenix, since the city would not do so.