Joel Wachs has been president of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc., since 2001. He was previously an American politician from Los Angeles, California who served from 1971 to 2001 as a Los Angeles City Councilman.
Career
Wachs represented the 2nd District on Los Angeles City Council, and was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and was vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management Committee. He authored legislation for the city's first rent stabilization ordinance, the nation's first law prohibiting discrimination against persons with AIDS, to provide funding for the city's arts endowment, and to establish the citywide system of neighborhood councils. He stood virtually alone in his successful fight to ensure that no taxpayer funds were used to subsidize building of the Staples Center. His frequent fights against appropriations of city funds earned him the nickname "Dr. No". However, this did not stop Wachs from initiating the Charter reform Bill, which raised the salaries of city councilman. They are the highest paid city council members in the nation, today earning $14,304 per month, twice the amount of a New York City councilman.
Wachs ran twice for mayor of Los Angeles. In 1993, he finished third behind Richard Riordan and Mike Woo. He ran again in 2001 and finished fourth with 11 percent, behind James K. Hahn, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Steve Soboroff.
Shortly thereafter, Wachs resigned and moved to New York City in order to serve as president of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.[1] Wachs salary at the charity is over $300,000 per year, which does not include generous expenses and a pension plan of approx 20%.. This is nearly four times the average salary for such a position.
As he prepares for the 2001 mayoral race, Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs has acknowledged openly for the first time that he is gay... when asked by Bill Rosendahl of Adelphia Communications if he was gay, Wachs responded: I am, and I'm very proud of what I've done for the community and I'm also very proud of the fact what I've done for the community is what I've done for all communities
– The Daily News of Los Angeles, November 13, 1999
References
- ^ Harrison Sheppard (2001-03-31). "Wachs Will Quit Council; Longest-Serving Member Leaving City Post To Head Andy Warhol Foundation". The Daily News of Los Angeles.
- ^ "Three Seats at the Table". The Advocate. 2001-04-10. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10994307_ITM. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
| Preceded by James B. Potter |
Los Angeles City Councilman 2nd district 1971–2001 |
Succeeded by Wendy Greuel |
 |
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