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In 2007, Weiss announced that he would run for Los Angeles City Attorney seat in 2009, when incumbent Rocky Delgadillo would be forced from office by term limits.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/13/local/me-cityelex13 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Antonio Villaraigosa, Jack Weiss and Wendy Greuel campaigns rake in funds | first1=Phil | last1=Willon | first2=Maeve | last2=Reston | date=2009-01-13}}</ref> That May a group of residents in his district launched a campaign to try to force a recall election of Weiss, accusing him of being too supportive of large development projects.<ref name="jewishjournal.com"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/31/local/me-briefs31.2 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Westside foes serve new recall notice on Weiss | date=2007-05-31}}</ref> Weiss said the developments were permitted under the city’s zoning laws and would bring needed jobs, housing, property taxes and other infrastructure improvements to the area. The group never turned in its petitions to the city, but claimed to have gathered 20,000 signatures. Their efforts attracted unflattering media attention to Weiss.<ref>http://www.laweekly.com/2007-09-27/news/jack-weiss-recall-stumbles/</ref>
In 2007, Weiss announced that he would run for Los Angeles City Attorney seat in 2009, when incumbent Rocky Delgadillo would be forced from office by term limits.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/13/local/me-cityelex13 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Antonio Villaraigosa, Jack Weiss and Wendy Greuel campaigns rake in funds | first1=Phil | last1=Willon | first2=Maeve | last2=Reston | date=2009-01-13}}</ref> That May a group of residents in his district launched a campaign to try to force a recall election of Weiss, accusing him of being too supportive of large development projects.<ref name="jewishjournal.com"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/31/local/me-briefs31.2 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Westside foes serve new recall notice on Weiss | date=2007-05-31}}</ref> Weiss said the developments were permitted under the city’s zoning laws and would bring needed jobs, housing, property taxes and other infrastructure improvements to the area. The group never turned in its petitions to the city, but claimed to have gathered 20,000 signatures. Their efforts attracted unflattering media attention to Weiss.<ref>http://www.laweekly.com/2007-09-27/news/jack-weiss-recall-stumbles/</ref>


Weiss finished first with 36 percent of the vote in the primary election for City Attorney, but was forced into a runoff against Carmen Trutanich, an attorney in private practice.<ref>http://cbs2.com/local/jack.weiss.carmen.2.949929.html</ref> Several members of the Council threw their support behind Trutanich and Weiss was frequently criticized for his close relationship with Villaraigosa, whose popularity had fallen and who had won reelection in March by a much lower margin than expected.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/21/local/me-city21 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Trutanich defeats Weiss in L.A. city attorney's race | first1=David | last1=Zahniser | first2=Maeve | last2=Reston | date=2009-05-21}}</ref> Weiss’ campaign also suffered missteps that garnered bad publicity. In one case, a city pension commissioner resigned after he allowed his name to be used on an invitation to a campaign fundraiser, a violation of city ethics law.<ref>http://berger4cityattorney.blogspot.com/2009/05/crime-scene-philanthropist-daphna.html</ref> Weiss was also criticized for accepting money from Benjamin Reznik, a lobbyist with a long history of suing the city.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/01/local/me-reznik1 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Suing the city of Los Angeles is part of lobbyist's routine | first=David | last=Zahniser | date=2009-03-01}}</ref>
Weiss finished first with 36 percent of the vote in the primary election for City Attorney, but was forced into a runoff against Carmen Trutanich, an attorney in private practice.<ref>http://cbs2.com/local/jack.weiss.carmen.2.949929.html</ref> Several members of the Council threw their support behind Trutanich and Weiss was frequently criticized for his close relationship with Villaraigosa, whose popularity had fallen and who had won reelection in March by a much lower margin than expected.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/21/local/me-city21 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Trutanich defeats Weiss in L.A. city attorney's race | first1=David | last1=Zahniser | first2=Maeve | last2=Reston | date=2009-05-21}}</ref> Weiss’ campaign also suffered missteps that garnered bad publicity. In one case, a city pension commissioner resigned after he allowed his name to be used on an invitation to a campaign fundraiser, a violation of city ethics law.<ref>http://berger4cityattorney.blogspot.com/2009/05/crime-scene-philanthropist-daphna.html</ref> In another, Weiss attended a fundraiser held a convicted felon.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzbSc_Eit4s</ref> Weiss was also criticized for accepting money from Benjamin Reznik, a lobbyist with a long history of suing the city.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/01/local/me-reznik1 | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=Suing the city of Los Angeles is part of lobbyist's routine | first=David | last=Zahniser | date=2009-03-01}}</ref>

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 to note that it had, in fact, known of the felony conviction prior to the televised interview with Weiss.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzbSc_Eit4s</ref>


In a bitterly fought campaign, Weiss and Trutanich argued who was more ethically fit to better fight crime, protect the environment and act independently of Villaraigosa. Weiss eventually lost by a final tally of 56% to 44%.<ref>[http://www.inglewoodtoday.com/news/community/1753-victory-for-price-defeat-for-state-measures.html Election results] Inglewood Today</ref> The loss was seen as a blow to L.A. mayor [[Antonio Villaraigosa]], a supporter of Weiss and a potential candidate for governor of California.<ref>David Zahniser and Maeve Reston [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city21-2009may21,0,7790592.story Weiss' defeat a stinging blow to City Hall ally Villaraigosa] May 21, 2009 LA Times</ref>
In a bitterly fought campaign, Weiss and Trutanich argued who was more ethically fit to better fight crime, protect the environment and act independently of Villaraigosa. Weiss eventually lost by a final tally of 56% to 44%.<ref>[http://www.inglewoodtoday.com/news/community/1753-victory-for-price-defeat-for-state-measures.html Election results] Inglewood Today</ref> The loss was seen as a blow to L.A. mayor [[Antonio Villaraigosa]], a supporter of Weiss and a potential candidate for governor of California.<ref>David Zahniser and Maeve Reston [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city21-2009may21,0,7790592.story Weiss' defeat a stinging blow to City Hall ally Villaraigosa] May 21, 2009 LA Times</ref>

Revision as of 20:03, 1 October 2010

Jack Weiss
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 5th district
In office
2001–2009
Preceded byMichael Feuer
Succeeded byPaul Koretz
Personal details
Born (1964-08-21) August 21, 1964 (age 59)
Los Angeles, California
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLeslie Barnes Kautz
ResidenceLos Angeles, California
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Princeton University

Jack Stephen Weiss (born August 21, 1964) is a former member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 5th district from 2001-2009. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California from 1994-2000.[1]

In 2009, Weiss lost to Carmen Trutanich in a bitterly fought election for Los Angeles City Attorney.

Weiss currently heads the Los Angeles office of Kroll, a global risk consulting company.[2]

Background and early career

Weiss graduated with honors from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in 1986.[3] After graduation, Weiss moved to Washington D.C. where he worked as an arms control researcher and as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill.[4] He then attended UCLA Law School and graduated in 1992.[3] While at UCLA, Weiss was the Editor-in-Chief of the UCLA Law Review. After UCLA, Weiss served as a law clerk to a federal judge in California. Weiss then briefly practiced as an attorney with the Los Angeles law firm, Irell & Manella LLP.[5]

Legal career

Weiss joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California in 1994. He was assigned to the Public Corruption and Government Fraud Section and the Major Frauds Section, and he brought cases involving white collar crime, corruption, civil rights, and violent crimes. He initiated the government’s prosecution of a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge who had conducted an affair with a defendant in his court.[3]

Political career

Los Angeles City Council

In 2001, Weiss was elected to the Los Angeles City Council's 5th district. He defeated former state senator, assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate Tom Hayden by 369 votes.[6]

During his tenure on the Los Angeles City Council, Weiss chaired the Public Safety Committee; the Redistricting Committee; the Arts, Health and Humanities Committee; and, the Information Technology and General Services Committee. He also served on the Planning and Land Use Management Committee,[7] and contributed to the unsuccessful bid to hold the 2016 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[8]

Weiss supported the efforts of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton to increase the City's trash collection fees to raise funds to hire new police officers.[9][10]

Weiss was active on issues involving homeland security and the police department. He was a frequent speaker and author on the topic of terrorism preparedness.[3] During his tenure on the Council, Weiss wrote legislation that toughened the city’s gun laws,[11] and he served as the founding chair of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.[3] Weiss was also an outspoken supporter of the State of Israel.[12]

Weiss won reelection in 2005 with 71.9% of the vote.[13]

As a city councilman, Weiss was criticized for accepting campaign contributions from real estate developers and their representatives.[14] In particular, Weiss accepted 78 political contributions from subcontractors for developer Alan Casden.[15] In violation of California election law, an executive affiliated with Casden made illegal contributions to the campaigns of Weiss, City Controller Wendy Greuel, former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, and mayoral candidate Kathleen Connell.[16] In 2006 and 2007, KNBC TV and the Los Angeles Times reported that Weiss and the other candidates had not returned these funds.[17]

The Fair Political Political Practices Commission reported that there was no evidence that the recipients were aware of the source of the funds.[18][19]

Campaign for Los Angeles City Attorney

In 2007, Weiss announced that he would run for Los Angeles City Attorney seat in 2009, when incumbent Rocky Delgadillo would be forced from office by term limits.[20] That May a group of residents in his district launched a campaign to try to force a recall election of Weiss, accusing him of being too supportive of large development projects.[13][21] Weiss said the developments were permitted under the city’s zoning laws and would bring needed jobs, housing, property taxes and other infrastructure improvements to the area. The group never turned in its petitions to the city, but claimed to have gathered 20,000 signatures. Their efforts attracted unflattering media attention to Weiss.[22]

Weiss finished first with 36 percent of the vote in the primary election for City Attorney, but was forced into a runoff against Carmen Trutanich, an attorney in private practice.[23] Several members of the Council threw their support behind Trutanich and Weiss was frequently criticized for his close relationship with Villaraigosa, whose popularity had fallen and who had won reelection in March by a much lower margin than expected.[24] Weiss’ campaign also suffered missteps that garnered bad publicity. In one case, a city pension commissioner resigned after he allowed his name to be used on an invitation to a campaign fundraiser, a violation of city ethics law.[25] In another, Weiss attended a fundraiser held a convicted felon.[26] Weiss was also criticized for accepting money from Benjamin Reznik, a lobbyist with a long history of suing the city.[27]

In a bitterly fought campaign, Weiss and Trutanich argued who was more ethically fit to better fight crime, protect the environment and act independently of Villaraigosa. Weiss eventually lost by a final tally of 56% to 44%.[28] The loss was seen as a blow to L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a supporter of Weiss and a potential candidate for governor of California.[29]

Business career

In 2010, Weiss joined Virginia-based security and global investigations firm, Altegrity Risk International. In August 2010, Altegrity acquired Kroll, a global risk consulting company, and on September 30, 2010 Weiss was chosen to head Kroll's Los Angeles office. Weiss oversees the company's effort to expand its due diligence and fraud investigative services in local corporate and legal communities.[30]

Community involvement

He has served as a member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Cesar Chavez Foundation, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.[1] He serves as a fellow for the Truman National Security Project.[3] While serving as a Councilmember, Weiss was notified that he was a bone marrow match for a leukemia patient he did not know. Weiss donated bone marrow to the patient and later received the Legislative Award from the National Marrow Donor Program for expanding city medical leave for bone marrow donors.[31] He is also a contributing editor to the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.[32][33]

Awards

During his career as a public servant, Weiss received numerous awards including:

  • 100 New Democrats to Watch by Democratic Leadership Council[7][34]
  • Humanitarian Award from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women[3]
  • Environmentalist of the Year Award from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters[3]
  • Distinguished Community Leader Award by UCLA Center for Community Partnerships [1]
  • Civic Leadership Award by Santa Monica Baykeeper[citation needed]
  • Civic Leadership Award, Peace Over Violence[35]

Personal life

Weiss resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Leslie Kautz, a former Pentagon policy analyst who is a co-founder of an investment advisory firm. The couple have two young children.[1][36]

References

  1. ^ a b c d http://la.ucla.edu/awards/2006-communityleader.shtml
  2. ^ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/09/kroll-names-former-councilman-jack-weiss-to-lead-its-la-office.html
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h http://www.trumanproject.org/programs/fellowship/people/jack-weiss
  4. ^ "To the Promised Land Immigrants in California and Israel" (PDF). Milken Institute. 2003-07-16. p. 11. Retrieved 2010-08-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.metnews.com/articles/2008/trut112508.htm
  6. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (2001-06-20). "Hayden Blasts City Hall as He Admits Defeat". The Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ a b maloney.house.gov/documents/olddocs/Homeland/weiss.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.sccog.org/webapp/images/stories/2016/bid/Afterword.pdf
  9. ^ Zahniser, David (2008-07-09). "Trash tax doesn't just hire police - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  10. ^ http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=06-0600-S1&CFID=17751567&CFTOKEN=e80212c913d04bb6-6940CBD7-EBA7-6108-15618B501C0A632D&jsessionid=f03075ddd59a9e9bba2c7d627e5e31168441
  11. ^ "Weiss Seeks Ways to ID Ammo Buyers". The Los Angeles Times. 2006-10-07.
  12. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayorisraellist,0,1171878.story
  13. ^ a b http://www.jewishjournal.com/community_briefs/article/5th_districts_jews_spar_over_city_councilman_jack_weiss_20070330/
  14. ^ Zahniser, David; Reston, Maeve (2009-05-15). "Weiss campaign is a crucial test of Villaraigosa's clout". The Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (2003-08-30). "Campaign Against Westwood Project Builds". The Los Angeles Times.
  16. ^ http://da.lacounty.gov/mr/archive/2004/101404c.htm
  17. ^ Reston, Maeve (2009-05-11). "Donations to Weiss are hard to sort out". The Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ "Laundered Elections (special report)". KNBC. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (2006-01-13). "Connell Gives Up Donor Funds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  20. ^ Willon, Phil; Reston, Maeve (2009-01-13). "Antonio Villaraigosa, Jack Weiss and Wendy Greuel campaigns rake in funds". The Los Angeles Times.
  21. ^ "Westside foes serve new recall notice on Weiss". The Los Angeles Times. 2007-05-31.
  22. ^ http://www.laweekly.com/2007-09-27/news/jack-weiss-recall-stumbles/
  23. ^ http://cbs2.com/local/jack.weiss.carmen.2.949929.html
  24. ^ Zahniser, David; Reston, Maeve (2009-05-21). "Trutanich defeats Weiss in L.A. city attorney's race". The Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ http://berger4cityattorney.blogspot.com/2009/05/crime-scene-philanthropist-daphna.html
  26. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzbSc_Eit4s
  27. ^ Zahniser, David (2009-03-01). "Suing the city of Los Angeles is part of lobbyist's routine". The Los Angeles Times.
  28. ^ Election results Inglewood Today
  29. ^ David Zahniser and Maeve Reston Weiss' defeat a stinging blow to City Hall ally Villaraigosa May 21, 2009 LA Times
  30. ^ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/09/kroll-names-former-councilman-jack-weiss-to-lead-its-la-office.html
  31. ^ "2003 National Marrow Donor Awards Recipients". National Bone Marrow Donor Program. 2003. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  32. ^ http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/10/new_blogger_has_advice_fo.php
  33. ^ http://www.jewishjournal.com/la_weiss/item/memo_to_chief_bartow_20091028/
  34. ^ http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=251581&subid=210&kaid=104
  35. ^ Giggans, Patti (2005-10-21). "Speech for LACAAW's 34th Humanitarian Awards Benefit". Peace Over Violence. Retrieved 2010-08-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  36. ^ "Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss Prepared Statement for the House Democratic Task Force On Homeland Security" (PDF). US House of Representatives. 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2010-08-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Political offices
Preceded by Los Angeles City Councilman
5th district
2001–2009 		Succeeded by

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