The Los Angeles City Controller is an official in the government of the city of Los Angeles, California. The City Controller is the paymaster and chief accounting officer of the city. Along with the Mayor and the City Attorney, the City Controller is chosen by popular vote every four years.
Stephanie Clements
Background:
- UC Santa Barbara
- USC
- Assistant Director, Bureau of Street Services
Key Platform Issues:
- Homelessness: Improve access to financial data/information and make it public, audit Section 8 voucher program, audit Prop HHH annually
- Technology: Audit City IT functions, beef up IT for more data-driven solutions, transition to 100% paperless process by City
- City Beautification: Manage assets better, develop sidewalk inventory to identify problems and then resources to address, better 311 platform, pressure CALTRANS for better maintenance of freeways
- Cannabis: increase retailers, expedite licensing process, push harder for more social equity owners, end cannabis drug testing for city employees, reduce taxes on retail sellers
- Gas Tax: restrict its use to pay City pensions
Funding:
- Contributions $ 72,432.07
- Expenditures: $ 51,513.46
Endorsements:
- Daily News
- Daily Breeze
- National Women’s Political Caucus
Website: www.clements4controller.com
Reid Lidow
Background:
- USC
- Cambridge
- Worked for Prime Minister Gordon Brown
- Mayor Garcetti’ Executive Officer
Key Platform Issues:
- Homelessness: coordinate all City offices involved, create a citywide parcel inventory, create rental unit database, increase outreach employees
- Economy: lower rate of gross tax receipts, will assess city-owned offices and need for them, eliminate supply expenses
- Racism: will pursue replacing loss of generational wealth by minorities, identify racist place names
- Climate: uncover any businesses with City contracts who are not climate compliant, eliminate wasteful City travel, streets for people and businesses
- Corruption: Monitor city employees productivity versus salaries, work more with advocates, create an open portal for public data
Funding:
- Contributions $ 154,451.72
- Expenditures: $ 60,029.66
Endorsements:
- Mayor Eric Garcetti
- Senator Scott Weiner
- Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, UK
- See all endorsements on website
Website: www.reidlidowforcontroller.com
Paul Koretz
Background:
- CD 5 City Councilmember
- Chaired City Audits & Government Efficiency Committee
- Served on West Hollywood City Council
- State Assembly Member for 42nd District
Key Platform Issues:
- Intends to identify all deficiencies and improve efficiencies of current City departments and their policies.
Funding:
- Contributions $ 515,742.36
- Matching Funds: $ 230,268.00
- Expenditures: $ 464,543.82
Endorsements:
- Mayor Eric Garcetti
- LA County Supervisor Janet Hahn
- Nury Martinez, President of LA City Council
- A number of currently serving and former City Councilmembers (see website for complete listing)
Website: www.koretzforla.com
David T Vahedi
Background:
- Loyola Marymount Law School
- Member, State Board of Equalization criminal investigation team
- Administrative Law Judge, State Board of Equalization
- Currently, CFO of a media buying company
Key Platform Issues:
- Purchase better trash cans for Department of Sanitation so replacement cans are more cost efficient
- Enroll the City in a CRV program to make money on redeemable items like cans and bottles
- Change timing on water bonds
- Detect and deter corruption in city agencies and amongst office holders
- Will audit public housing and supportive housing costs
- Track homeless placement and housing efforts
Funding:
- Contributions $ 195,269.10
- Matching Funds: $ 207,198.00
- Expenditures: $ 160,287.68
Endorsements:
- Refuses endorsements from currently serving City officials. See website for comprehensive list of community leaders and business owners
Website: www.vahediforcontroller.com
J. Carolan O’Gabhann
Background:
- CSULA
- Philanthropist and Teacher
- Key Platform Issues:
- Charter reform to include more diversity
- Update City’s technology plan for increased cyber-security alerts
- All fiscal audits must have a lens on climate change
Funding:
- Contributions $ 0
- Matching Funds: $ 0
- Expenditures: $ 0
Endorsements: Unknown
Website: None Found
Rob Wilcox
Dropped out.
Kenneth Mejia
Background:
- Woodbury University
- Co-founded We Can Make A Difference
- Member of LA Tenants Union
- Neighborhood Council Member, Koreatown
Key Platform Issues:
- Homelessness: Account and audit homelessness funds and programs, calculate costs and audit cost of homeless encampment sweeps and criminalization, propose plans and recommendations on how to end homelessness, identify vacant land and property for housing, create more tools for people to connect to services, create oversight department
- Housing: Create database of all housing units in Los Angeles, identify apartments with expiring housing covenants, calculate precise building costs on new projects, track rent increases on all rentals, increase taxes to create more revenue for the City
- Environment: account and audit funds and programs that address climate change, audit Garcetti’s Green New Deal, push to end all fossil fuel drilling, refining and infrastructure, audit fossil fuel investment in the City’s portfolio, audit LADWP, plant 90,000 trees in the City.
Funding:
- Contributions $ 206,428.41
- Matching Funds: $ 428,000.00
- Expenditures: $ 275,656.11
Endorsements:
- BikingInLA
- CA Working Families Party
- Ground Game LA
- LA Times
- Healthcare for All, LA
- Dr. Melina Abdullah
- Baba Akili
- See complete list on website
Website: www.mejiaforcontroller.com
Editor’s note: Questionnaires were sent to all controller candidates. Those who provided answers were published.