Richard Alarcón
Encyclopedia
Richard Anthony Alarcón (born November 24, 1953) is a California
politician
who is currently a Los Angeles City Council
man. A Democrat
, he has previously served in the California State Senate
and, for approximately three months, in the California State Assembly
.
Alarcón first served as an assistant to Los Angeles Mayor
Tom Bradley
before gaining a seat on the City Council to represent the 7th District in 1993. One year into his second term as a City Councilman, Alarcón resigned to become a State Senator
in 1998, representing the 20th Senate district
. Term limit
s prevented him from seeking a third Senate term in December 2006. Among Alarcón's accomplishments while in the California Senate were workers' compensation reform and recovery funding for the community of Northridge
following the deadly earthquake
of 1994. Alarcón served as Majority Whip during all eight of his years in the State Senate.
During the San Fernando Valley secession movement of 2002, there was talk that if the Valley seceded, Alarcon might become mayor of the new city. Alarcon decided not to run for Valley mayor, and instead opposed secession. Alarcon's council district was the most opposed to secession of any district in the San Fernando Valley.
In 2005, Alarcón ran for mayor of Los Angeles. He finished a distant fifth, gaining less than 2% of the vote, behind Bernard Parks, Bob Hertzberg, incumbent James Hahn
, and Antonio Villaraigosa
. After serving as a state senator for 8 years, in 2006 Alarcón ran unopposed for California's 39th State Assembly district
representing the San Fernando Valley area.
Shortly after taking office, Alarcón announced his intention to seek a third term in 2007 as Los Angeles City Councilman in the 7th district. In the special election, held in March, Alarcón won easily (receiving 55%). He resigned from the Assembly soon thereafter. His tenure in the Assembly, totalling 102 days, was the shortest service in that house since 1981.
Richard Alarcón has four children who were educated in public schools in the San Fernando Valley
. He is a former teacher. Alarcón lost a son to a fatal car accident.
He is a graduate of California State University, Northridge
. He is Roman Catholic.
Six members of his staff—chief of staff Saeed Ali as well as Becca Doten, Ackley Padilla, Lidia Soto, Nancy Hodges and John de la Rosa—testified in front of a grand jury on July 7.
He has raised at least $9,000 from donors to cover legal fees he may face as the investigation continues.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who is currently a Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
man. A Democrat
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...
, he has previously served in the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
and, for approximately three months, in the California State Assembly
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...
.
Alarcón first served as an assistant to Los Angeles Mayor
Mayor of Los Angeles, California
The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive officer of the city. He is elected for a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan...
Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley (politician)
Thomas J. "Tom" Bradley was the 38th Mayor of Los Angeles, California, serving in that office from 1973 to 1993. He was the first and to date only African American mayor of Los Angeles...
before gaining a seat on the City Council to represent the 7th District in 1993. One year into his second term as a City Councilman, Alarcón resigned to become a State Senator
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
in 1998, representing the 20th Senate district
California's 20th State Senate district
California's 20th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Alex Padilla of Los Angeles. The district encompasses a part of Los Angeles County in the San Fernando Valley, including all of San Fernando and more than a fifth of Los...
. Term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s prevented him from seeking a third Senate term in December 2006. Among Alarcón's accomplishments while in the California Senate were workers' compensation reform and recovery funding for the community of Northridge
Northridge, Los Angeles, California
Northridge is a community located in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States.The 1994 Northridge earthquake is named for the place based on early estimates of the location of the quake's epicenter; however, further refinements showed it to be technically...
following the deadly earthquake
Northridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
of 1994. Alarcón served as Majority Whip during all eight of his years in the State Senate.
During the San Fernando Valley secession movement of 2002, there was talk that if the Valley seceded, Alarcon might become mayor of the new city. Alarcon decided not to run for Valley mayor, and instead opposed secession. Alarcon's council district was the most opposed to secession of any district in the San Fernando Valley.
In 2005, Alarcón ran for mayor of Los Angeles. He finished a distant fifth, gaining less than 2% of the vote, behind Bernard Parks, Bob Hertzberg, incumbent James Hahn
James Hahn
James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn is an American politician. Hahn was elected the 40th Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He served until 2005, at which time he was defeated in his bid for re-election...
, and Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
. After serving as a state senator for 8 years, in 2006 Alarcón ran unopposed for California's 39th State Assembly district
California's 39th State Assembly district
California's 39th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Felipe Fuentes of Sylmar.-District profile:...
representing the San Fernando Valley area.
Shortly after taking office, Alarcón announced his intention to seek a third term in 2007 as Los Angeles City Councilman in the 7th district. In the special election, held in March, Alarcón won easily (receiving 55%). He resigned from the Assembly soon thereafter. His tenure in the Assembly, totalling 102 days, was the shortest service in that house since 1981.
Richard Alarcón has four children who were educated in public schools 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 is a former teacher. Alarcón lost a son to a fatal car accident.
He is a graduate of California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
. He is Roman Catholic.
Residency scandal
In August of 2010 Alarcón was indicted on perjury and voter fraud charges for not living in his district and lying in campaign disclosure documents about his official residence.Six members of his staff—chief of staff Saeed Ali as well as Becca Doten, Ackley Padilla, Lidia Soto, Nancy Hodges and John de la Rosa—testified in front of a grand jury on July 7.
He has raised at least $9,000 from donors to cover legal fees he may face as the investigation continues.