Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 53; Democratic Party

No other candidate for Assembly can match Nick's personal experience with the day-to-day issues facing South Bay families.

Prosecutor. Teacher. Economic development. Environmental activist. Nick Karno has done them all. And as a result, nobody's better prepared to help bring the changes we need.

Currently, Nick works as a prosecutor in the Safe Neighborhoods Division of the City Attorney's office, handling a wide variety of cases, including domestic violence, gang crimes, narcotics, vandalism, and other quality-of-life crimes. He knows the impact these types of crimes can have on our neighborhoods, and he has firsthand knowledge of how we can make our streets safer. Nick also spent several years teaching in local public schools, giving him irreplaceable insight into what we can do to improve our education system. He taught bilingual Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education at Mark Twain Middle School in Venice and Marina Del Rey Middle School.

Before that, Nick developed an expertise in economic development by working in the Office of Economic Development for Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. He's also worked as a freelance journalist at the L.A. Weekly, as a legal fellow for Congressman Howard Berman on the House Judiciary Committee, at a Halfway-House for recovering alcoholics, at a non-profit employment center for inner-city youth, and coaching 6th grade soccer. Nick's interests and expertise extend well beyond the workplace.

Several years ago, he became an environmental activist, and in January of 2007, he was selected to attend The Climate Project - a training program with Al Gore about delivering and presenting his work. The Climate Project sends trained activists into communities to inform and discuss the urgent crisis of global warming. After attending, Nick joined the Venice Neighborhood Council, where he formed the Environmental Committee. The committee has since organized Town Halls on the "State of our Oceans" and Climate Change, formed a mobility committee that strives to reduce traffic and promote bicycling, and worked with other organizations like Santa Monica Baykeeper, Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, the Algalita Foundation, and the Ballona Institute. Nick also joined the board of the Abbot Kinney District Association where he "greened" the annual street festival by installing solar generators, using cornstarch bags, and organizing a series of speakers to discuss sustainable practices.

Nick was born in Los Angeles, and attended public schools throughout LAUSD, before graduating from Brentwood School.

He graduated from Tufts University in Boston, then received his teaching credential at Cal State University Los Angeles, then his law degree from American University Washington College of Law. Nick graduated Cum Laude from law school and was voted graduation speaker for his class.

Nick lives in Venice, CA.