Michael Feuer

Mike Feuer
Member of the California State Assembly from the 42nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  December 4, 2006 [1]
Preceded by	Paul Koretz
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	1958
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Gail Ruderman Feuer [2]
Alma mater	Harvard University
Profession	Politician, Lawyer
Religion	Jewish

Michael Feuer (1958-)^[3] is a Californian politician and lawyer. He now represents the 42nd Assembly District which includes Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and part of Los Angeles in the California State Assembly. He was elected in 2006 on the Democratic ticket. Feuer goes by Mike instead of Michael. He is married with two children.

Before Politics

Feuer was born and raised in San Bernardino, California. Feuer's first electoral victory came in fourth grade when he won his first election to become fourth-grade president in a racially mixed public school ^[4]. He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1976 and was class valedictorian. He had the standard interests of any young boy growing up. He was a fan of the California Angels and played basketball in high school. One of Feuer's first forays into "elective" office occurred at Golden Valley Junior High School. He ran for class president and the initial election resulted in a literal tie with his opponent. A few days later, the staff of the school decided to have another election, which Mike won.

Feuer received both a Bachelors and Law degree from Harvard University^[5]. He served on the Harvard Law School Board of Overseers Visiting Committee. Feuer graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Harvard University and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He has practiced law at two of California’s leading firms and served as a judicial clerk on the California Supreme Court ^[6].

Feuer was the executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services - The House of Justice and was a lawyer in private practice ^[7][8]. The Los Angeles Daily Journal declared that Feuer transformed Bet Tzedek into a “national success story” by establishing programs to help Alzheimer’s patients, victims of the Northridge earthquake and L.A. civil unrest, and Holocaust survivors striving to obtain restitution ^[9][10]. Mr. Feuer oversaw free legal representation for more than 50,000 elderly, poor and disabled clients on issues including health care, nursing home abuse, consumer fraud, and slum housing^[11].

City Council

From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Feuer served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 5th district. He was elected in a special election to replace Zev Yaroslavsky, who had run for supervisor. Feuer ran against Zev Yaroslavsky's wife Barbara Yaroslavsky ^[12]. While on the Council, Feuer led the Council’s committees on business tax reform, children’s and seniors’ issues and ethics in government^[13]. He authored laws and created new programs to combat gun violence, expand decent, affordable housing, protect seniors from elder abuse, advance the rights of women and girls, enhance environmental quality, improve emergency services and public safety, promote better race relations and reform City government. Feuer chaired the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, delivering balanced multi-billion dollar budgets and intervening to ensure meals and transportation for seniors in need, jobs for disadvantaged youth, basic services for Los Angeles’ neighborhoods and funding to promote literacy ^[14]. Feuer was termed out of his city council seat in 2001 ^[15][16][17].

City Attorney's Race and after

In 2001, he ran for City Attorney but lost to Rocky Delgadillo with 47.6% of the vote ^[18]. Feuer collected numerous endorsements including the LA Times ^[19]. Feuer had placed first in the democratic primary for the position with 39% to Delgadillo's 38% ^[20]. Afterward, he worked in private practice and taught at the UCLA School of Public Affairs. He authored dozens of articles on children, seniors, government reform, violence prevention, consumer rights, the justice system and the environment in California’s leading newspapers. He has served as a commentator on National Public Radio member KPCC ^[21].

Race for Assembly

Mr. Feuer ran against West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land in the 2006 Democratic Primary. Feuer was endorsed by the Los Angeles Times ^[22], outgoing 42nd Assembly member Paul Koretz ^[23], and the Sierra Club^[24]. The Los Angeles Times highlighted Feuer's experience and policy skill that would allow him to be an effective legislator. Land was endorsed by the California Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO^[25]. Feuer won the Democratic nomination with over 50% of the vote ^[26]. With over 50% of the voters registered Democrat, Feuer was assured an easy victory in the general election ^[27]. Feuer won the general election against Republican Steven Mark Sion with over 72% ^[28].

Assembly Member

On December 4, 2006, Feuer was appointed by Speaker Fabian Nunez to Chairman of the Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Information Technology and Transportation ^[29]. Feuer also is a member of the Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee, and the Select Committees on Rail Transportation and Prison Construction and Operation ^[30]. As a freshman, Feuer introduced over 20 bills. Bill topics included transit oriented development, improvements on the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, reducing DUI ticket masking, nursing home safety and information, and putting a 7% cap on UC fee increases. The most publicized of Feuer's bills was AB 1471 that would require all semi-automatic gun cartridges sold in California after 2010 to be microstamped in two locations. Feuer delivered the June 1, 2007 Democratic weekly radio address concerning that bill Media:http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20070601RadioAddressEnglishGunsFeuer.mp3. Governor Schwarchenegger approved Feuer's microstamping bill and his bill on DUI ticket masking on October 14, 2007 but vetoed several other of Feuer's bills including those on nursing homes, consumer rebates, and court fees [2].

Trivia

In some political circles, he has been mistaken for the pop culture icon Borat. He is the assemblyman who represents California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Political offices held

References

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