Candidate for
United States Representative; District 37

Edward H.J. Wilson, CPA Councilman, City of Signal Hill

Born: Ventura, CA Age: 44 Education: BS Accounting - University of Southern California

Certificate in SAP + USC & SAP

Councilman Wilson is the former Mayor and is currently on the Signal Hill City Council (first elected March 1997). He was the first African American to be elected to any office in the City and serve as its Mayor in the City's 79-year history. Signal Hill a city with a population of approximately 10,000 in 2.25 square miles was once viewed to be hostile to people of color. It is now known for its cultural diversity, business friendly city hall and view orientated homes. A lot has changed!

Since Councilman Wilson's election to City Council, Signal Hill has witnessed the highest prosperity in its history. The City has focused on the long-term quality of life aspects. Adding four new parks, developing single family housing for all economic ranges (low income to million dollar homes), and seeing steady growth in the business sector. Councilman Wilson has been active regionally as well, lobbying the State and Federal government for millions of dollars for overlooked areas of Los Angeles County. He was instrumental in the formation of the Clean Truck Programs for both Ports of LA and Long Beach and in the formation of the Rivers and Mountain Conservancy "RMC" (the 1st urban conservancy in the state of California). http://www.gatewaycog.org.

The Clean Truck Program to date has taken 400 old super polluting trucks off the road and replaced them with newer more efficient and cleaner burning trucks. Reducing 2000 tons of NOx emissions per year for five years. (http://www.gatewaycog.org/cleanairprogram/news/news.html)

In addition to serving on the council, Wilson holds the positions or serves on the boards of the following agencies: RMC; Vice Chair Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency; The Spring Street Joint Powers Authority; The L.A. County Sanitation Commission Board #29; Gateway Cities Council of Government; and Board of Governors for Long Beach City College Foundation.

He has also served as President Gateway Cities Council of Government; Board Member, League of California Cities; Past President, Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities; Vice Chair of the Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency, Chair of the Signal Hill School District Formation Committee, Treasurer of the African American Caucus of the California League of Cities; L.A. County Commission of Local Government Services; L.A. Economic Development Corporation and as President, President Elect, Vice President and Treasurer of the L.A. Division of the League of California Cities.

In his professional life, Councilman Wilson is a Certified Public Accountant and a business consultant. He has held positions at Kubota Tractor Corporation, Nissan North America, Inc., Controller of Pine Cobble Funding Corporation; Comptroller of State Street Bank; Internal Audit Manager of The California Credit Union; Chief Financial Officer of Family Savings Bank, FSB; and Audit Supervisor of KPMG Peat Marwick.

Councilman Wilson also has served on the Board of USC's BAA Support Group and the Internal Audit Committee for the California Credit Union League. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.