Don Knabe
Encyclopedia
Donald R. Knabe is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
, serving the Fourth District. Knabe is the current Chairman for the 2010 session. He recently was reelected on the June 3, 2008 election.
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 1978 as one of several candidates for the GOP nomination to replace Del Clawson as Congressman from the 33rd District (Downey-Norwalk-Whittier). Knabe lost to Wayne Grisham, but carried his home area, and in 1980 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.
In 1987, Knabe considered running as a Republican for the state Senate in a special election. However, he backed down in favor of Wayne Grisham (whose Congressional seat had been redistricted and was now a state Assemblyman). Grisham lost the special election to Democratic Norwalk City Councilman Cecil Green by a larger-than expected margin, and Republicans immediately concluded that the younger, more energetic Knabe should have been the nominee. Knabe retired from the City Council in 1988 to run for the state Senate. After a hard-fought and expensive campaign, Green defeated Knabe by 51% to 49%.
The Knabes have two sons, Curt and Matt, both graduates of Pepperdine University
. Don Knabe is a member of the Reformed Church of America and attends Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California
.
, in 1996 when Dana retired from public life. In the non-partisan primary, he finished first with 40% of the vote, and in the general election, he defeated former Rolling Hills
Mayor Gordana Swanson, who had given Dana a tough race in 1992.
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
, lifeguard headquarters, 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. As of 08/31/11 87 babies alone, in Los Angeles County, have been safely surrendered.
Don Knabe is also known for his efforts to preserve clean beaches and coastline.
The Fourth District of Los Angeles County is a crescent-shaped district that covers such important places as much of Los Angeles County's coastline, LAX, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles
, Catalina Island
, the entire South Bay
, portions of the City of Los Angeles
some of Marina del Rey
, and portions of the first suburban Chinatown in America (Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, La Habra Heights, Diamond Bar).
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is the five-member nonpartisan governing board of Los Angeles County, California. Members of the board of supervisors are elected by district. They were as of December 2, 2008:*District 1: Gloria Molina...
, serving the Fourth District. Knabe is the current Chairman for the 2010 session. He recently was reelected on the June 3, 2008 election.
Education and Early Political Career
Knabe attended Graceland UniversityGraceland University
Graceland is not ranked by U.S. News & World Report, being deemed a Tier 3 institution. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission as a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.-Housing System:...
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
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
. The Knabes owned a small business, and Knabe entered politics in 1978 as one of several candidates for the GOP nomination to replace Del Clawson as Congressman from the 33rd District (Downey-Norwalk-Whittier). Knabe lost to Wayne Grisham, but carried his home area, and in 1980 was elected to the Cerritos City Council on the basis of growth issues. Knabe took a job with Supervisor Deane Dana
Deane Dana
Deane Dana, jr. was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.Dana was born July 9, 1926 in New York City. He studied engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey....
's office in 1982, soon advancing to Chief of Staff.
In 1987, Knabe considered running as a Republican for the state Senate in a special election. However, he backed down in favor of Wayne Grisham (whose Congressional seat had been redistricted and was now a state Assemblyman). Grisham lost the special election to Democratic Norwalk City Councilman Cecil Green by a larger-than expected margin, and Republicans immediately concluded that the younger, more energetic Knabe should have been the nominee. Knabe retired from the City Council in 1988 to run for the state Senate. After a hard-fought and expensive campaign, Green defeated Knabe by 51% to 49%.
The Knabes have two sons, Curt and Matt, both graduates of Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
. Don Knabe is a member of the Reformed Church of America and attends Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California
Paramount, California
Paramount is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. According to the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 54,098 down from 55,266 at the 2000 census...
.
Supervisor, 4th District, Los Angeles County
Don Knabe ran for the position of his boss, Deane DanaDeane Dana
Deane Dana, jr. was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.Dana was born July 9, 1926 in New York City. He studied engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey....
, in 1996 when Dana retired from public life. In the non-partisan primary, he finished first with 40% of the vote, and in the general election, he defeated former Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills, California
Rolling Hills is a city in the Palos Verdes Hills, in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,860, down from 1,871 at the 2000 census...
Mayor Gordana Swanson, who had given Dana a tough race in 1992.
A moderate Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Knabe is most noted for instituting a safe haven law
Safe haven law
Safe-haven laws are statutes in the United States that decriminalize the leaving of unharmed infants with statutorily designated private persons so that the child becomes a ward of the state...
or baby hatch
Baby hatch
A baby hatch is a place where mothers can bring their babies, usually newborn, and leave them anonymously in a safe place to be found and cared for. This kind of arrangement was common in mediaeval times and in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the device was known as a foundling wheel...
in 2002, where mothers can leave their baby at a fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
, lifeguard headquarters, or hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
within 72 hours of their birth. The program was instituted after several publicized cases of child abandonment
Child abandonment
Child abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one's offspring with the intent of never again resuming or reasserting them. Causes include many social and cultural factors as well as mental illness. An abandoned child is called a foundling .-Causes:Poverty is often a...
and infanticide
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
. The program was quickly adopted statewide. As of 08/31/11 87 babies alone, in Los Angeles County, have been safely surrendered.
Don Knabe is also known for his efforts to preserve clean beaches and coastline.
The Fourth District of Los Angeles County is a crescent-shaped district that covers such important places as much of Los Angeles County's coastline, LAX, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles
Los 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...
, Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
, the entire South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles
The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border.The picture at right uses the broadest definition of the...
, portions of the City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
some of Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey, California
-Demographics:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Marina del Rey had a population of 8,866. The population density was 6,094.6 people per square mile...
, and portions of the first suburban Chinatown in America (Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, La Habra Heights, Diamond Bar).