Janice Hahn
Janice Hahn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 36th district | |
| Assumed office July 12, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Jane Harman |
| Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 15th district | |
| In office July 1, 2001 – July 12, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Rudy Svorinich |
| Succeeded by | vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 30, 1952 Los Angeles, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gary Baucum (divorced) |
| Relations | Kenneth Hahn (father) James Hahn (brother) Gordon Hahn (uncle) |
| Children | Three |
| Residence | San Pedro, Los Angeles |
| Alma mater | Abilene Christian University |
| Occupation | U.S. Congresswoman, former businesswoman and teacher |
| Education | B.S. in Education, 1974 |
| Website | Official Website |
Janice Kay Hahn (born March 30, 1952) is the U.S. Representative from California's 36th congressional district and a member of the Democratic Party. She was previously a Los Angeles City Councilwoman representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011. From 1997 to 1999 she served as an elected representative on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission.[1]
On July 12, 2011, Hahn won a special election for Congress to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Jane Harman. She defeated Republican Craig Huey, a Tea Party-backed direct marketer from the Torrance area, by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent.[2]
Before beginning her political career, Hahn was a businesswoman and a teacher.[3]
Early life, education and early career
Hahn was raised in a politically involved family. She is the daughter of the late Ramona Hahn (née Fox)[4] and the late Kenneth Hahn, a 40-year Los Angeles County Supervisor who started his career in elective politics as a Los Angeles City Councilman.[5] Her uncle, Gordon Hahn, was a member of the California Assembly and a Los Angeles City Councilman from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Her brother, James Hahn, served as Los Angeles City Controller from 1981 to 1985, City Attorney from 1985 until 2001, and Mayor of Los Angeles from 2001 until 2005.[5][1] Hahn's maternal grandparents served as missionaries in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s.[4]
Hahn attended Abilene Christian University in Texas, earning a bachelor of science in education in 1974.[6] She taught at the Good News Academy, a private school in Westchester from 1974 to 1978.[6] Her other work in the private sector has included Public Affairs Region Manager at Southern California Edison from 1995 to 2000;[6] Vice President for Prudential Securities in Public Finance, Director of Community Outreach for Western Waste Industries, and Director of Marketing for the Alexander Haagen Company.
Hahn was elected to represent the Fifteenth District on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, serving from 1997 to 1999. As a Commissioner, she fought for many of the reforms included in the new charter, including Area Planning Commissions, local representation on the citizen commissions governing Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles, and a system of neighborhood councils.[5]
Los Angeles City Council
Hahn served on the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 15th District, from 2001 to 2011. The 15th District encompasses the San Pedro Harbor and includes the ethnically diverse communities of Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts and Wilmington.[7] She was reelected to her third and final term in November 2009.[1]
She has been called "one of the most pro-labor members" of the City Council, and a "consistent opponent of layoffs and furloughs for city workers."[8] Hahn walked the picket lines with unionized dockworkers in 2002.[9] After the Bush administration suggested it would intervene in the labor dispute by using government troops to operate the ports, Hahn urged non-intervention.[9] "'There's no room for the federal government. There's only one reason for them to get involved, and that's to break the union,' she said."[9] She was the leading force on the City Council behind both the passage of a living wage ordinance for the hotel workers along Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the provision of improved health benefits to LAX employees.
Hahn cites her efforts to clean up the Port of Los Angeles as one of her main accomplishments while on the City Council.[10] The 2006 Clean Air Action Plan, which she and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pushed forward, set a goal of reducing pollution by 45 percent within five years and shifted the movement of goods at the ports to off-peak traffic hours.[10] Hahn also supported the addition of the Clean Trucks Program that requires the 16,000 diesel trucks serving the ports meet 2007 EPA emission standards within five years.[11][10] She has noted that the ports have been Southern California's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses and diesel emissions and that the Clean Trucks Program also provides for improved working conditions, wages and benefits for port truckers.[11] Prior to the Clean Air Action Plan, she had already shifted about 35% of goods to be moved during off-peak hours. Hahn also helped advance redevelopment projects at the Port of Los Angeles in both San Pedro and Wilmington.
She gave money to gang bangers and bailed them out of jail so they could rape and kill again.
On the City Council, Hahn was a major proponent of gang prevention, intervention, and suppression programs. She led the campaign to pass Measure A, which would have dedicated a sustainable revenue stream for those programs, but fell just shy of the two thirds percentage needed to pass. On a smaller level, she expanded the Gang Alternatives Program to all elementary schools in her district.
Campaigns
1998 Congressional campaign
Hahn made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. Incumbent Congresswoman Jane Harman had resigned to run unsuccessfully for Governor of California. Hahn won the Democratic nomination but was defeated in the November 3, 1998 election by Republican State Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall; receiving 47 percent of the vote to Kuykendall's 49 percent.[12]
2010 statewide campaign
In 2010, Hahn ran for California Lieutenant Governor but was defeated in the primary by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, finishing second in a field of three candidates.[13]
2011 Congressional campaign
On February 7, 2011, Hahn announced her intention to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the special election to fill California's 36th Congressional District seat vacated by Congresswoman Jane Harman's departure to head the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Hahn was one of sixteen candidates from all parties who competed in the special election primary on May 17, 2011.[14] She finished first with 24 percent of the vote; Republican Craig Huey finished second with 22 percent. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent, Hahn and Huey, the top two finishers, faced off in a special runoff election on July 12.[14] Many had expected Debra Bowen, the third place finisher and California Secretary of State, to secure one of the top two spots.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, endorsed Hahn in March 2011, a move the Daily Breeze called "significant" because of the fundraising and get out the vote power of the large organization.[15] As of March 23, 2011, Hahn had received endorsements from Senator Dianne Feinstein, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, California State Senator Ted Lieu, Torrance Firefighters Association Local 1138, and other notable figures such as former LA Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson and environmentalist and actor Ed Begley Jr.[16] On April 25, 2011, Hahn secured the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times.[14] Following her victory in the primary, Hahn was endorsed by California Democrats Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom (who defeated Hahn in the 2010 primary race for Lieutenant Governor), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.[17] Emily's List, an organization that supports women candidates who support abortion rights also endorsed Hahn.[17] On June 5, 2011, Hahn was officially endorsed by primary opponent Marcy Winograd, California State Controller John Chiang, Assemblyman Warren Furutani and Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, as well as the gun-control group Brady Campaign.
A poll conducted by the Daily Kos and Services Employees International Union shortly before the July 2011 election had Hahn in the lead over Huey by 8 points, (52 percent to 44 percent) with 4 percent undecided.[18] Her final margin of victory was 9 points, 54.56 percent to 45.44.[2]
Awards and recognition
Some of the awards received by Hahn include the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Bold Vision Award from the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the Public Service Award from the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Recognition Award from the Harbor Area Gang Alternative Program, and enshrinement on the Promenade of Prominence in Watts.[1]
Personal life
Hahn is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles and lives in San Pedro.[1] She is the mother of three children, the grandmother of five, and a member of the Churches of Christ.[19]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janice Hahn | 41,585 | 54.56 | |
| Republican | Craig Huey | 34,636 | 45.44 | |
| Turnout | 22 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janice Hahn | 15,647 | 24.6 | |
| Republican | Craig Huey | 14,116 | 22.2 | |
| Democratic | Debra Bowen | 13,407 | 21 | |
| Democratic | Marcy Winograd | 5,905 | 9.3 | |
| Republican | Mike Gin | 4,997 | 7.9 | |
| Turnout | 15 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gavin Newsom | 1,308,860 | 55.5 | |
| Democratic | Janice Hahn | 780,115 | 33.3 | |
| Democratic | Eric Korevaar | 257,349 | 10.9 | |
| Total votes | 2,346,324 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | 7,553,109 | 31.0 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janice Hahn | 10,869 | 76 | ||
| Chris Salabaj | 3,420 | 24 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janice Hahn | 19,005 | 57 | ||
| Hector J. Cepeda | 14,413 | 43 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steven T. Kuykendall | 88,843 | 49 | |
| Democratic | Janice Hahn | 84,624 | 47 | |
| Green | Robin Barrett | 3,612 | 1.6 | |
| Libertarian | Kerry Welsh | 3,066 | 1.5 | |
| Reform | John R. Konopka | 1,561 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 181,706 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janice Hahn | 5,709 | 65 | ||
| Jerry L. Gaines | 3,036 | 35 | ||
| Turnout | 31.0 | |||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janice Hahn | 10,092 | 49 | ||
| Jerry L. Gaines | 6,857 | 34 | ||
| Linda Louise Forster | 3,496 | 17 | ||
| Turnout | 31.0 | |||
References
- ^ a b c d e "Janice Hahn Council District 15 Bio". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c "County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk JULY 12, 2011 – CD 36 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION Semi-Final Official Election Returns". July 12, 2011.
- ^ Hugo Martin (January 28, 1997). "112 Compete for 15 Seats on City Charter Reform Panel" (Pay per view). Los Angeles Times.
Among the candidates for the elected panel are ... Janice Hahn, a businesswoman and sister of City Atty. James K. Hahn
- ^ a b "Ramona Hahn, Wife Of The Late Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, Dead At 86". Beverly Hills Courier. City News Service. July 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Kenneth F. Hahn, 77, Is Dead; Political Giant in Los Angeles". The New York Times. October 14, 1997. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Janice Hahn, Democratic candidate for California lieutenant governor". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ "Council District 15 Zip Codes" (PDF). City of Los Angeles.
- ^ Gene Maddus (March 22, 2011). "Councilwoman Janice Hahn Gets Labor Fed Endorsement In Congressional Race". LA Weekly. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c Simon Avery (August 13, 2002). "ILWU's message to Bush: Stay away". Honolulu Advertiser.
- ^ a b c "LA Councilwoman Hahn Presents Her Campaign Platform". Manhattan Beach Patch. Manhattan Beach, CA Patch. May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b Shirley Hawkins (March 27, 2008). "Clean Truck Program wins unanimous approval". Our Weekly. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998" (PDF). p. 7.
- ^ a b "June 8, 2010, Primary Election – Statement of Vote Lieutenant Governor" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c Kyle Trygstad (April 25, 2011). "LA Times endorses Janice Hahn in California special election". Roll Call. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
- ^ Eric Bradley (March 22, 2011). "L.A. County Federation of Labor backs Hahn". The Daily Breeze.
- ^ "Endorsements". Janice Hahn for Congress.
- ^ a b Kyle Trygstad (May 25, 2011). "Emily's List Endorses Janice Hahn". Roll Call.
- ^ Catalina Camia (July 11, 2011). "Poll: Dem leads in Calif. special election for House". USA Today.
- ^ Ross Jr., Bobby (2011-08-19). "America's newest congresswoman is a Church of Christ member". Christian Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
- ^ "CD 36 Spec Primary & Consolidated Elec: Final Official Election Returns". County of Los Angeles-Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. May 17, 2011 as of May 20, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "General Municipal & Consolidated Elections – Official Election Results" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ^ "General Municipal & Consolidated Elections – Official Election Results June 5, 2001" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. June 16, 2001. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ^ "6/13/97 Election Results". Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ^ "4/22/97 Election Results". Retrieved June 5, 2011.
External links
