Paul H. Lamport
Encyclopedia
Paul H. Lamport was a Hollywood, California, developer and civic leader who was a Los Angeles City Council member between 1965 and 1969.
and that he took college courses through the United States Armed Forces Institute and Los Angeles University College of Law. It states that he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from California College of Law.
. "Received battlefield commission in France in 1944. Earned 7 battle stars. Wrote Army handbook on mess
management under combat conditions. Extracts of handbook adopted by War Department. Received commendation for this work signed by Brig. Gen. D.O. Elliott. Honorably discharged October 28, 1944."
of the Los Angeles Times that he had at one time been a newspaperman
.
Lamport was appointed by the City Council in early 1965 to represent Los Angeles City Council District 13 in succession to James Harvey Brown
, who had been named a municipal court judge. In that era, the 13th District included Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and portions of Los Feliz and Lincoln Heights
.
Lamport's principal opponent in the election that followed later that year was Mary Tinglof, a former president of the city Board of Education, and a liberal. During the campaign, it was reported that Lamport had misrepresented his academic record and falsely claimed a combat medal for bravery, the Silver Star
, among other alleged misstatements in his campaign literature. Lamport said he had attended the schools claimed in his publicity, although he did not complete more than the 10th grade in high school. He said he had received a certificate for the medal but could not find it. It was also revealed that Lamport had been arrested and fined in September 1938 for the illegal possession of two slot machines in a restaurant at 10271 Pico Boulevard
, but Mayor Sam Yorty vociferously defended Lamport and threatened to walk out of a news conference and cancel any more as long as reporters insisted on asking him about the situation. Lamport won the election in the final round over Tinglof.
In 1969, "the flamboyant Lamport" lost the election to his former deputy, Robert Stevenson
. Before that election the Engineers and Architects Association had charged that Lamport had shown "bias, prejudice and intolerance" in writing a letter accusing the association's representative in City Hall of being "most ineffective, stupid and unaggressive."
Three years later Lamport was appointed by Mayor Yorty as a member of his staff.
Family
Lamport was born February 3, 1907, in Los Angeles, the son of William H. and Frances Lamport. He was married in December 1945 to Ruth G. Lamport of Saint Louis, Missouri. They had a son, Stanley William Lamport.Education
His official biography dated February 1967, on file in the Los Angeles Public Library, says that he went to "Polytechnical" High SchoolJohn H. Francis Polytechnic High School
John H. Francis Polytechnic High School is a secondary school located in the Sun Valley area of Los Angeles, California. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District...
and that he took college courses through the United States Armed Forces Institute and Los Angeles University College of Law. It states that he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from California College of Law.
Military service
His biography states that he was inducted into the Army on November 19, 1942, and served in the European Theater of OperationsEuropean Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
. "Received battlefield commission in France in 1944. Earned 7 battle stars. Wrote Army handbook on mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
management under combat conditions. Extracts of handbook adopted by War Department. Received commendation for this work signed by Brig. Gen. D.O. Elliott. Honorably discharged October 28, 1944."
Civic and business activities
His biography states he was a director of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, president of the Hollywood Property Owners Association and was commodore of the Long Beach Yacht Club and president of the Civic Regatta Association, which began the Southern California Mid-Winter Regatta. He was "part owner or in several business partnerships involving real estate holdings" and was director of the Metropolitan Bank of Hollywood. He also said in a letter to Paul CoatesPaul Coates
Paul V. Coates was an American print and television journalist. He was known for his popular daily newspaper column and as the host of the syndicated tabloid-style television series Confidential File, developed by Coates and Irvin Kershner .Coates suffered a massive stroke in 1966 which left the...
of the Los Angeles Times that he had at one time been a newspaperman
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Illness and death
Lamport suffered a stroke in 1980 and died on April 2, 1984, at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, and a son, Stanley.Elections
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1965, 1969Lamport was appointed by the City Council in early 1965 to represent Los Angeles City Council District 13 in succession to James Harvey Brown
James Harvey Brown
James Harvey Brown was a City Council member in Los Angeles, California, between 1959 and 1964 and then municipal court judge in that city from 1964 to 1985.-Biography:...
, who had been named a municipal court judge. In that era, the 13th District included Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and portions of Los Feliz and Lincoln Heights
Lincoln Heights
Lincoln Heights may refer to:* Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California* Lincoln Heights, Ohio* Lincoln Heights , Ontario, a neighbourhood* Lincoln Heights, Washington, D.C., a neighbourhood...
.
Lamport's principal opponent in the election that followed later that year was Mary Tinglof, a former president of the city Board of Education, and a liberal. During the campaign, it was reported that Lamport had misrepresented his academic record and falsely claimed a combat medal for bravery, the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, among other alleged misstatements in his campaign literature. Lamport said he had attended the schools claimed in his publicity, although he did not complete more than the 10th grade in high school. He said he had received a certificate for the medal but could not find it. It was also revealed that Lamport had been arrested and fined in September 1938 for the illegal possession of two slot machines in a restaurant at 10271 Pico Boulevard
Pico Boulevard
Pico Boulevard is a major Los Angeles street that runs from the Pacific Ocean at Appian Way in Santa Monica to Central Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA...
, but Mayor Sam Yorty vociferously defended Lamport and threatened to walk out of a news conference and cancel any more as long as reporters insisted on asking him about the situation. Lamport won the election in the final round over Tinglof.
In 1969, "the flamboyant Lamport" lost the election to his former deputy, Robert Stevenson
Robert Stevenson and Peggy Stevenson
Robert J. Stevenson and Peggy Stevenson were a husband and wife who served consecutive terms totaling sixteen years in representation of the Hollywood-Silver Lake-Highland Park area on the Los Angeles City Council—Robert between 1969 and 1975 and Peggy between 1975 and 1985.-Biographies:Robert...
. Before that election the Engineers and Architects Association had charged that Lamport had shown "bias, prejudice and intolerance" in writing a letter accusing the association's representative in City Hall of being "most ineffective, stupid and unaggressive."
Three years later Lamport was appointed by Mayor Yorty as a member of his staff.
Positions
- Industrial land. Lamport urged in 1966 that vacant industrial land be sheltered from taxes so that the owners would have an incentive to leave it undeveloped rather than asking for rezoning to another purpose. "Man's dignity begins with a permanent job, not one created by relief or any governmental agency," he said. "The problem of saving our industrial land is even more serious than forming a Human Relations Commission or anything else like that."
- Hollywood expansion. His 1966 attempt to expand the borders of the Hollywood district to include Universal CityUniversal CityUniversal City may refer to:In the entertainment industry:* Universal City Studios, an alternate name of Universal Studios* Universal City RecordsThe following places owned by Universal Studios:* Universal City, California...
and part of North Hollywood failed in the midst of objections from those areas.
- Water and power. Lamport was briefly a candidate to head the Los Angeles Department of Water and PowerLos Angeles Department of Water and PowerThe Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is the largest municipal utility in the United States, serving over four million residents. It was founded in 1902 to supply water and electricity to residents and businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding communities...
after the resignation of General Manager and Chief Engineer Samuel B. Nelson.
- Hippie invasion. He complained that city departments were engaged in a "secret" program to "welcome an invasion of 100,000 hippies" to Los Angeles in summer 1967 and proposed a resolution that would order the departments to "cease and desist" from according any "dissident non-conformist groups" any special consideration. It was defeated by 7 votes to 5, requiring 8 votes to pass. The next year another of his proposals was passed unanimously, an ordinanceLocal ordinanceA local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
"designed to keep hippies from annoying and molesting people on Hollywood streets."
Quotations
- "Having been a newspaperman at one time I realize that in-depth journalism costs money; however, responsible journalism costs nothing but a little extra thought."