Candidate for
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 5

Scott J. Svonkin Biography

Scott J. Svonkin is a School Board member, former businessman and long-time community activist. His family consists of his wife Jennifer and adorable daughter, Rose and son Sam. Scott and Jennifer are committed to improving the lives of families like their own, families who want good schools/colleges, safe neighborhoods, and a prosperous, healthy, diverse community in which to raise their children. Scott has attempted to do this through both traditional political work and grass-roots volunteerism. He served as Chief of Staff for a State Assemblyman, has almost a lifetime of experience in non-profits and community affairs. He grew up in Los Angeles County, and has spent years working in the business world, for non-profits, and in government. Scott is currently Senior Advisor to Sheriff Lee Baca. For years he was President of the Svonkin Consulting, Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs firm. As a former businessman with Prudential Insurance, a former member of Mayor Tom Bradley's staff and a Community College Instructor at Valley College, Scott has demonstrated leadership with vision.

Scott Svonkin's contributions to the local community span civic, political, cultural, educational and religious activities. He has dedicated literally thousands of hours of work in pursuit of his quest to make our community healthier, more prosperous, and more peaceful. Scott was recently elected Secretary/ Treasurer for the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association. Because of his commitment to the community and public schools, He was recently elected to serve as Vice Chairman of the board of Directors of the California Credit Union, a billion dollar financial institution. Scott served two terms as the Student Member of Pasadena City College Board of Trustees.

Coming out of his concern for the health of residents, Scott serves as Chairman of the L.A. County Insurance Commission, and has been a board member of the Children's Hospital L.A. Huckleberry Fund. He served on the California Respiratory Board, and his fellow board members elected him President shortly after his appointment to the Board.

Scott is also committed to promoting educational opportunities for all, as can be seen in his service as a member of the Valley College Foundation Board, the California State University, Northridge Legislative Advisory Council, the LA PROSPER Board of the Los Angeles Community College District, the Center for Southern California Studies Advisory Board, and his service as former Chair of the LAUSD Advisory Council District Four. As a Health Care Executive, he arranged for his company to donate almost one thousand computers to public schools.

A native of Los Angeles County, Scott attended public schools. He went on to receive his B.A. from Cal State University, Northridge. As Deputy Councilman for West Hollywood, Scott worked on important legislation, community liaison activities, inter-governmental relations, media relations, and constituent services for the City of West Hollywood. As a Chief of Staff, Scott has worked on such important legislative projects as: an aggressive anti-crime program focused on getting guns off the streets; protecting children from tobacco and its advertising; support of public education; and protecting working families.

During his six and a half years with Prudential, Scott received their Community Champions Rising Star Award for his commitment to helping others, as well as their Hero Award for creating a voter registration and grassroots-lobbying program. During his two years working for Mayor Tom Bradley, Scott was honored for helping to save one of Los Angeles's most historic buildings, as well as for reaching out to many of L.A.'s ethnic and religious organizations.

Scott is regarded as an outstanding leader. People who know him use words like "dedication," "commitment," "passion" and "leader" to describe him. Scott has long served as a community leader, a leader who builds bridges between elected officials, businesses, and various ethnic and religious groups in order to effect positive changes in our community.

For more information please visit: http://WWW.Svonkin.com