Richard Alarcón

Not to be confused with Ricardo Alarcón.

Richard Alarcón
Member of Los Angeles City Council from the 7th district
In office 1993–1998 2007 – present
Preceded by	Ernani Bernardi Alex Padilla
Succeeded by	Alex Padilla Incumbent
Member of the California State Assembly from the 39th district
In office 2006–2007
Preceded by	Cindy Montañez
Succeeded by	Felipe Fuentes
Member of the California Senate from the 20th district
In office 1998–2006
Preceded by	Herschel Rosenthal
Succeeded by	Alex Padilla
Personal details
Born	November 24, 1953 (1953-11-24) Glendale, California
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Los Angeles, California
Website	http://www.lacity.org/council/cd7/

Richard Anthony Alarcón (born November 24, 1953) is a California politician who is currently a Los Angeles City Councilman. 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 limits 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.

Residency scandal

In August 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.

External links

• Official City Council website

References

Political offices
Preceded by Ernani Bernardi	Los Angeles City Councilman 7th District 1993–1998	Succeeded by Alex Padilla
Preceded by Herschel Rosenthal	California State Senator 20th District 1998–2006
Preceded by Cindy Montañez	California State Assemblyman 39th District 2006–2007	Succeeded by Felipe Fuentes
Preceded by Alex Padilla	Los Angeles City Councilman 7th District 2007 – present	Incumbent