Jack Weiss

Jack Weiss
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 5th district
In office 2001 – 2009
Preceded by	Michael Feuer
Succeeded by	Paul Koretz
Born	August 21, 1964 (1964-08-21) (age 45) Los Angeles, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Leslie Barnes Kautz
Residence	Los Angeles, California
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles Princeton University
Religion	Judaism

Jack Stephen Weiss (born August 21, 1964 in Los Angeles, California) is a former member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 5th district, a position he held from 2001 to 2009. The 5th district includes parts of the Westside and the San Fernando Valley. Weiss is a graduate of UCLA Law School and has worked in the Los Angeles US Attorney's Office and private practice.

In 2009 Weiss ran as a candidate to replace Rocky Delgadillo as Los Angeles City Attorney.^[1] Weiss lost the runoff election to Carmen Trutanich.^[2]

Biography

Weiss graduated from Princeton University and received his law degree from UCLA Law School, where he served as editor-in-chief of the UCLA Law Review. Early in his career, he had stints working as an arms control researcher on Capitol Hill. Weiss was an attorney with the Los Angeles law firm of Irell & Manella LLP for 7 months, before joining the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's office, where he worked for six years. Weiss narrowly won election as a councilman for the 5th district defeating fellow Democrat Tom Hayden. Weiss has been Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and serves on the Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Weiss, along with all couclimembers, worked with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton to use an increase in the City's trash collection fees to recruit new police officers.^[3] However, the City's Controller noted that the Police Department had assigned 400 officers to desk duty rather than to street patrol, where they could better protect the public.^[4]

Issues

In 2006 and 2007, KNBC TV and the Los Angeles Times reported that Weiss, along with other council members, had not yet returned illegal campaign contributions received as laundered money from Casden Properties, in apparent contravention of California law. The chief of enforcement of the Fair Political Practices Commission said there was no evidence that any of the recipients were aware of the source of the funds. ^[5][6]

In 2007 residents in his council district started a campaign to recall Jack Weiss. According to the campaign website, the recall effort was in response to Weiss's support for high density development throughout the district, but most noticeably in Century City. The recall effort fell short of subscribing 28,500 signatures, however, it is claimed that as many as 20,000 signed the petition calling for the recall of Jack Weiss.

Weiss has also been linked to and recently received campaign funding from Benjamin Reznik, a litigator who has frequently sued the City, leading some to raise concerns about a potential conflict of interest should he be elected as City Attorney. However, Reznik has also done fundraising for other politicians, including the current City Attorney, and others aren't concerned that this would affect Weiss' impartiality.^[7]

In April 2009, one of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's pension board appointees stepped down after the Los Angeles Times inquired about his involvement in a campaign fundraiser for Jack Weiss' City Attorney campaign--an activity that violates the City's ethics law. According to Weiss' campaign consultant, Weiss would return the approximately $20,000 raised from this illegal fundraiser.^[8] As of mid-May 2009, Los Angeles' Metropolitan News-Enterprise was reporting allegations that the Weiss campaign had yet to return any of the contributions from the illegal fundraiser. ^[9]

On May 11, 2009, the Los Angeles Fox broadcast station affiliate reported on Weiss's attendance of a fundraiser hosted by a convicted felon. Weiss said he did not know about the felony and later his campaign contacted Fox and to note that it had, in fact, known of the felony conviction prior to the televised interview with Weiss.^[10]

Campaign for City Attorney

Weiss lost his election race for the Office of City Attorney to political newcomer Carmen Trutanich. A major point of contention was Weiss's close ties to developers and his support for a seven-story, 219-unit housing complex along La Brea Avenue that was opposed by many of those living in the neighborhood.^[11] Weiss lost to Trutanich, a registered independent, in what became a bitterly fought campaign. The final tally was 56% to 44%.^[12] The loss was seen as a blow to L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a close ally and supporter of Weiss's and a potential candidate for governor of California.^[13]

References