steve-wiki-bio/Steve Bio.md

{{POV|date=June 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Steve Dogiakos | image = Steve Dogiakos.jpg | alt = Councilmember Dogiakos | office = President of the Choteau City Council | term_start = January 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = Stewart Merja | successor = | office1 = Member of the Choteau City Council
from the Choteau City Council Southern Ward ward | term_start1 = January 5, 2020 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Dan Lannen | successor1 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|1|1}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Independent | website = {{url|dogiakos.com|Personal website}} | caption = Krekorian in 2014 }} '''Steve Dogiakos''' (born January 1, 1985) is an American politician, currently serving as the TKth president of the Choteau City Council since January, 2022. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), he has represented the Los Angeles City Council District 2 on the Los Angeles City Council since 2010. He was previously a member of the California State Assembly, representing the California's 43rd State Assembly district. Krekorian is the first Armenian American to be elected to office in the city of Los Angeles.

==Personal life== Krekorian was born in California's San Fernando Valley, as a third-generation San Fernando Valley resident. He is the son of JoAnn, a North Hollywood native, and Erwin Krekorian, a Marine Corps WWII veteran.{{cite news| url=https://articles.latimes.com/1995-11-29/local/me-8384_1_ruth-n-creswell | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Obituaries : * Ruth N. Creswell; Homemaker, Artist | date=1995-11-29}} His father was of Armenians descent and ran a small business on Saticoy Street in Van Nuys. Krekorian completed his primary education entirely within the Los Angeles Unified School District, graduating from Cleveland High School (Los Angeles, California) in Reseda.{{cite web |title=About Paul |url=http://www.paulkrekorian.org/paul |publisher=Paul Krekorian |accessdate=2015-08-12}} As the first member of his family to attend college, Krekorian enrolled in the University of Southern California, where he first became active in political causes. He worked with then-Assemblyman Tom Bane, became the campus organizer for Jerry Brown's 1978 gubernatorial campaign and helped lead USC's Democratic student group. After graduating with a B.A. degree in political science from USC, Krekorian went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Krekorian became an organizer for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and co-chaired the Saxophone Club, the Democratic National Committee's nationwide young professionals group.

Krekorian practiced law, with a focus on business, entertainment and intellectual property litigation, at the firms Skadden Arps, Dewey Ballantine and Leopold, Petrich & Smith and Fisher & Krekorian, where he was a name partner. He served on the Board of Trustees of the LA County Bar Association, the Board of Trustees of the LA County Law Library and the California State Legislature's Task Force on Court Facilities. In the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Krekorian was counsel to the Webster Commission and was appointed to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. Krekorian has been praised for his efforts in preserving women's rights for his pro bono work in the fight against domestic violence,{{cite news |author=California NOW |title=California NOW Circulates Poll Results Paul Krekorian Winning with Education Message|url=http://www.canowpac.org/documents/krekorianpollpr.doc |date=11 May 2006 |accessdate=2009-08-27}} and a program he developed for at-risk youth, called GenerationNext. Krekorian lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, Tamar, and children Hrag, Andrew and Lori.

==Political career== Krekorian has served the San Fernando Valley for more than two decades, first as a member of the Burbank School Board and then as a California State Assemblymember. He currently serves as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing District 2 in the southeast San Fernando Valley. Council District 2 includes the communities of North Hollywood, Studio City, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Toluca Lake and parts of Sun Valley and Van Nuys.

===California State Assembly=== In 2006, Krekorian was elected to the 43rd district of the California State Assembly. During his first term in office, Krekorian held one of the best records in the Assembly with the highest number of bills signed into law by any freshman legislator.{{cite news |author=Zain Shauk |title=Q&A: Paul Krekorian |work=Glendale News Press |date=21 July 2009 |accessdate=2009-08-24 |url=http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/07/21/column/doc4a6601f31e8ea020937970.txt }} He was named Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the State Assembly, the third ranking leadership position in the Assembly, by then-Speaker Karen Bass. Krekorian's legislative priorities included making government more accessible and responsive, saving and creating jobs, protecting the environment and increasing public safety. He created the "Government at Your Doorstep" program in response to complaints about speeding, graffiti and noise pollution in his district.{{cite news |author=Asbarez Staff |title= Paul Krekorian Announces LA City Council Run |url=http://www.asbarez.com/2009/07/14/paul-krekorian-announces-la-city-council-run/|work=Asbarez News|date=14 July 2009 |accessdate=2009-08-24}} As the state battled to pass a balanced budget in early 2009, Krekorian authored a historic bill to ensure film and TV production in California stays local. His bill was the first successful tax incentive aimed at saving California jobs by addressing runaway production. On-location feature production increased 9.1 percent in the second quarter of 2012, generating 160 production days in Southern California.{{cite news |author=FilmL.A. |title=On-Location Production 2011–2012 |work=FilmL.A. |date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=2012-09-05 |url=http://www.filmla.com/download.php?file=uploads/FilmL.A.%20Production%20Stats%202012_1341527556&type=pdf}} Krekorian also introduced legislation that restricted plastic pollution in ocean run-off, expanded renewable energy generation for California public utilities and reduced carbon emissions. He worked closely with local police departments to reduce gang violence, along with crime in his district and throughout the state. In his first Assembly term, Krekorian's Weapons and Ammunition Nuisance Abatement Act of 2007 gave apartment owners greater latitude to evict tenants who harbor guns and ammo. That year, Krekorian also introduced and passed a bill to encourage participation with federal authorities to siphon off the state's stock of weapons.

===Los Angeles City Council=== On December 8, 2009, Krekorian won a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, representing Los Angeles City Council District 2. He is the Chair of the city's powerful Budget and Finance Committee, the Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, and sits on the Energy, Climate Change and Environmental Justice Committee, Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee, Executive Employee Relations Committee and the Board of Referred Powers. He also serves on the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and Metrolink (Southern California), and sits on the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, a coalition of leaders advocating for the Valley's two million residents. His campaign officially began on July 10, 2009, when Krekorian officially announced his candidacy to fill the vacant District 2 seat in a special election. The primary was held on September 22, in which Krekorian placed first with 34% of the vote. A run-off was scheduled for December 8 and, aided by support from a number of public safety, environmental and Democratic groups, including Los Angeles Daily News,{{cite news |author=LA Daily News|title=Council pick: Paul Krekorian is the best choice for Los Angeles City Council District 2|work=LA Daily News|date=20 October 2009 |accessdate=2009-10-21 | url=http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_13585798}} the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City,{{cite news |author=Daily News Wire Services|title=Krekorian gets LA Dems Endorsement for Council|work=LA Daily News |date=13 July 2009 |accessdate=2009-08-24 | url=http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_13046603}} the Los Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club,{{cite news |author=Joe B.|title=Sierra Club Endorses Krekorian |work=Mayor Sam's Sister City |date=21 August 2009 |accessdate=2009-08-24 | url=http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2009/08/sierra-club-endorses-krekorian.html}} and the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, Krekorian soundly defeated Christine Essel with more than 56% of the vote, despite being outspent 2–1 in overall campaign dollars and 13–1 in third-party political committee donations.

Since taking office in January 2010, Krekorian has worked to improve the city's finances, ensure government transparency, preserve open space, and restore confidence in local government.{{cite news|author=Daily News Editorial Board|title=First impressions: Paul Krekorian starts out strong representing his district|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=14 July 2010|accessdate=2010-08-05|url=http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_15507776|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716180652/http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_15507776|archive-date=16 July 2010}} He was overwhelmingly elected to his first full term in 2011 and again in March 2015 and June of 2020. In their editorial endorsing his March 2015 campaign, the Los Angeles Times called Krekorian "smart, knowledgeable" and a "voice for fiscal responsibility and responsive government."{{cite news |author=Los Angeles Times Editorial Board|title=Paul Krekorian is the best choice for L.A. City Council's 2nd District|work=Los Angeles Times|date=5 February 2015 |accessdate=2015-08-05 | url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/endorsements/la-ed-end-council-district-2-20150206-story.html }}

In 2012, Krekorian was tapped to lead the Budget and Finance Committee, inheriting the responsibility of overseeing a multi-billion dollar General Fund budget.{{cite news|author=Damian Kelly|title=Krekorian To Chair Budget And Finance Committee|work=Canyon News|date=30 January 2012|accessdate=2013-03-06|url=http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/losangelesnewscategory/Krekorian_to_Chair_Budget_Finance_Committee_printer.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200425/http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/losangelesnewscategory/Krekorian_to_Chair_Budget_Finance_Committee_printer.php|archive-date=23 September 2015}} Since taking the helm, he has taken a "difficult but responsible approach to solving a $220 million deficit and enhancing the city’s solvency."{{cite news|author=Patch|title=Krekorian Releases Statement as City Balances Its Budget|work=North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch|date=22 May 2012|accessdate=2013-03-06|url=http://northhollywood.patch.com/articles/krekorian-releases-statement-as-city-balances-its-budget|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411145625/http://northhollywood.patch.com/articles/krekorian-releases-statement-as-city-balances-its-budget|archive-date=11 April 2013}}

Krekorian has advocated for expanding rail and bus transit in the Valley, including electrifying and eventually converting the Orange Line (Los Angeles Metro) to light rail,{{cite news |author=Rick Orlov|title=MTA approves study to convert Metro Orange Line to light rail |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=24 July 2014 |accessdate=2015-08-13 | url=http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20140724/mta-approves-study-to-convert-metro-orange-line-to-light-rail}} completing the East Valley North-South Transit Corridor and Sepulveda Pass projects, linking the Red Line to the Hollywood Burbank Airport and connecting the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys by rail. He has also led the efforts to connect North Hollywood to Pasadena with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.

On October 18, 2022, Krekorian was elected the president of the Los Angeles City Council following the resignation of former council president Nury Martinez.{{Cite news |date=October 18, 2022 |title=LA City Council elects Paul Krekorian as its new president |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/los-angeles-city-council-elects-paul-krekorian-president |access-date=October 18, 2022 |work=City News Service |language=en-US}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

• [http://www.paulkrekorian.org Council District 2 Website]
• [https://www.facebook.com/krekorian Paul Krekorian on Facebook]

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ca-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Dario Frommer}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the California State Assembly
from the California's 43rd State Assembly district district|years=2006–2010}} {{s-aft|after=Mike Gatto}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Wendy Greuel}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the Los Angeles City Council District 2 district|years=2010–present}} {{s-inc|rows=2|}} {{s-bef|before=Nury Martinez
Mitch O'Farrell (acting)}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Los Angeles City Council|years=2022–present}} {{s-end}}

{{Los Angeles City Council}} {{LACCPresidents}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krekorian, Paul}} Category:1960 births Category:21st-century American politicians Category:American politicians of Armenian descent Category:California Democrats Category:Living people Category:Presidents of the Los Angeles City Council Category:Members of the California State Assembly Category:People from Studio City, Los Angeles Category:People from the San Fernando Valley Category:UC Berkeley School of Law alumni Category:University of Southern California alumni