Wally Knox
Encyclopedia
Wally Knox was a Democratic
Assemblyman from the State of California
from 1994 until 2000. Due to term limits, he was ineligible to run again for the Assembly. Instead he ran for the 23rd district State Senate seat, but lost the Democratic primary to Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl
.
. He was an attorney
specializing in labor relations, and owned a small business. He was on the Executive Board of the American Jewish Committee
. The first in his family to attend college, he graduated from Harvard University
and Hastings Law School. He served four years in the U. S. Army
and is a decorated Vietnam
veteran. He is married to Elizabeth Garfield, and has two daughters, Aviva and Tamara. They belong to Temple Israel
of Hollywood
.
area communities of Beverly Hills
, Brentwood
, Beverly Fairfax
, Bel Air, Century City
, Hancock Park
, Hollywood, Miracle Mile
, Westwood
, West Los Angeles
and West Hollywood
. In the San Fernando Valley
, he represents Encino
, Sherman Oaks
, Studio City
and Universal City
.
Earlier, he served as chair of the Labor and Employment Committee. He sponsored the bill to reinstate daily overtime
pay with flexibility for workers and employers. He was the author of a new law allowing parents to use their accrued sick leave
to care for ill children. In 1997-1998, he was chair of the Select Committee on the California Middle Class, which examined the causes of stagnating wages and declining living standards for working families.
He gained passage of anti-crime measures, including a one-gun limit law, intended to dry up the black market sales of handguns to gang members, youths and felons. He authored legislation that doubled the size of a successful crime prevention program that targets repeat offenders. He wrote laws to assist local law enforcement in apprehending street criminals and the prosecution of car registration tag thefts. He sponsored an effort that enabled the Los Angeles Police Department
to trace and crack down on illegal handguns.
For four consecutive years Knox earned a score of 100% from the California League of Conservation Voters
with a perfect pro-environment voting record. He authored new laws to prevent ocean pollution and to cut down on hazardous air pollution. He wrote the nation's first law requiring banks to disclose to consumers hidden charges for the use of ATMs. He is responsible for expanding State assistance to innovative start-up companies, in the high-tech, biotech and multi-media fields, through the new business incubator program.
Knox received the 1998 award for outstanding leadership from the Jewish Public Affairs Committee. He secured passage of a crucial new law that helps Holocaust
survivors and families of Holocaust victims recoup insurance policy payments denied them by European insurance companies. He authored a landmark law requiring insurers to disclose Holocaust-era policy information to a public State registry, or lose their license to operate in California.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Assemblyman from the State of California
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from 1994 until 2000. Due to term limits, he was ineligible to run again for the Assembly. Instead he ran for the 23rd district State Senate seat, but lost the Democratic primary to Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl
Sheila Kuehl
Sheila James Kuehl is an American politician, and a former child actress. She most recently served as a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the 23rd district in Los Angeles County and parts of southern Ventura County...
.
Pre Legislative Career and Personal Life
Prior to his election, Knox served on the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College DistrictLos Angeles Community College District
The Los Angeles Community College District is the community college district serving Los Angeles, California and some of its neighboring cities. In addition to typical college aged students, the LACCD also serves adults of all ages. Indeed, over half of all LACCD students are older than 25 years...
. He was an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
specializing in labor relations, and owned a small business. He was on the Executive Board of the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
. The first in his family to attend college, he graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and Hastings Law School. He served four years in the U. S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and is a decorated Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran. He is married to Elizabeth Garfield, and has two daughters, Aviva and Tamara. They belong to Temple Israel
Temple Israel
Temple Israel is the given name of numerous synagogues. It may refer to:*Temple Israel of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California*Temple Israel *Temple Israel *Temple Israel...
of Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
.
The 42nd District
Knox's 42nd Assembly district included the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area communities of Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, Brentwood
Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
Brentwood is a district in western Los Angeles, California, United States. The district is located at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, bounded by the San Diego Freeway on the east, Wilshire Boulevard on the south, the Santa Monica city limits on the southwest, the border of Topanga State...
, Beverly Fairfax
Fairfax District, Los Angeles, California
The Fairfax District is an area of neighborhoods in the Mid-City West area of Los Angeles, California.- Geography :It is roughly bordered by West Hollywood on the north, Highland Avenue on the east, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills on the west and Wilshire Boulevard on the south...
, Bel Air, Century City
Century City, Los Angeles, California
Century City is a 176-acre commercial and residential district on the Westside of the city of Los Angeles. It is bounded by Westwood on the west, Rancho Park on the southwest, Cheviot Hills and Beverlywood on the southeast, and the city of Beverly Hills on the northeast...
, Hancock Park
Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California
Hancock Park is a historic and affluent urban neighborhood in Los Angeles, California roughly bounded by Van Ness Avenue to the East, Melrose Avenue to the North, La Brea Avenue to the West, and Wilshire Boulevard to the South.-History:...
, Hollywood, Miracle Mile
Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California
The Miracle Mile in Los Angeles, California, is an area in the Mid-Wilshire region consisting of an almost two-mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax and Western Avenues...
, Westwood
Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Westwood is a neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the home of the University of California, Los Angeles .-History:...
, West Los Angeles
West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
West Los Angeles is a district in Los Angeles, California, within a larger region known as the "Westside."-Geography and transportation:...
and West Hollywood
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
. In the 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...
, he represents Encino
Encino, Los Angeles, California
Encino is a hilly district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Specifically, it is located in the central portion of the southern San Fernando Valley and on the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains...
, Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California
Sherman Oaks is an affluent district in the San Fernando Valley area of the city of Los Angeles, California. In contrast to much of the Valley, the area is relatively urbanized, with commercial skyscrapers along Ventura Boulevard as well as scattered throughout...
, Studio City
Studio City, Los Angeles, California
Studio City is an affluent residential neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California in the San Fernando Valley. Studio City expands over four ZIP code areas: 91604 and sections of 91602, 91607 and 90210....
and Universal City
Universal City, California
Universal City is a community in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, that encompasses the 415 acre property of Universal Studios...
.
Assembly career
In the Assembly, Knox served as chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee. He was also a member of the following committees: Judiciary, Housing and Community Development, and Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security.Earlier, he served as chair of the Labor and Employment Committee. He sponsored the bill to reinstate daily overtime
Overtime
Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. Normal hours may be determined in several ways:*by custom ,*by practices of a given trade or profession,*by legislation,...
pay with flexibility for workers and employers. He was the author of a new law allowing parents to use their accrued sick leave
Sick leave
Sick leave is time off from work that workers can use during periods of temporary illness to stay home and address their health and safety needs without losing pay. Some workplaces offer paid sick time as a matter of workplace policy, and in few jurisdictions it is codified into law...
to care for ill children. In 1997-1998, he was chair of the Select Committee on the California Middle Class, which examined the causes of stagnating wages and declining living standards for working families.
Legislative accomplishments
Knox successfully fought to reinstate the renters tax credit and secured expanded tax relief for senior citizens.He gained passage of anti-crime measures, including a one-gun limit law, intended to dry up the black market sales of handguns to gang members, youths and felons. He authored legislation that doubled the size of a successful crime prevention program that targets repeat offenders. He wrote laws to assist local law enforcement in apprehending street criminals and the prosecution of car registration tag thefts. He sponsored an effort that enabled the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
to trace and crack down on illegal handguns.
For four consecutive years Knox earned a score of 100% from the California League of Conservation Voters
California League of Conservation Voters
The California League of Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan lobbying and educational organization which focuses on environmental issues affecting California....
with a perfect pro-environment voting record. He authored new laws to prevent ocean pollution and to cut down on hazardous air pollution. He wrote the nation's first law requiring banks to disclose to consumers hidden charges for the use of ATMs. He is responsible for expanding State assistance to innovative start-up companies, in the high-tech, biotech and multi-media fields, through the new business incubator program.
Knox received the 1998 award for outstanding leadership from the Jewish Public Affairs Committee. He secured passage of a crucial new law that helps Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
survivors and families of Holocaust victims recoup insurance policy payments denied them by European insurance companies. He authored a landmark law requiring insurers to disclose Holocaust-era policy information to a public State registry, or lose their license to operate in California.