Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 13

Matt Szabo knows how to get things done. With more than a decade of experience at the top levels of city government + including the administrations of two mayors and as a deputy to a city council office and the city attorney's office + Szabo knows how the city works, knows what doesn't work and knows how to make it work on behalf of the residents and stakeholders of the Thirteenth District.

As a member of the City Council, Szabo will draw upon his vast and diverse experience in local government to improve delivery of basic neighborhood services; create a more business-friendly environment as part of a fiscally-responsible, balanced budget; increase the City's investment in public transportation, street repair and park space; and do the difficult work necessary to bring together competing interests to advance a progressive vision for our city's future.

Matt Szabo has earned a reputation as a tenacious but fair-minded problem-solver: City Hall's "fixer." He has at times been referred to by his colleagues as MacGyver, the Fire Chief (puts out fires) and The Wolf (from "Pulp Fiction").

As Deputy Mayor and Deputy Chief of Staff to Antonio Villaraigosa, Matt Szabo recruited and empowered a team of financial professionals to stabilize and fortify city budget after the market crash of 2008. Matt Szabo also served as Villaraigosa's chief negotiator, successfully convincing the city's civilian workforce to preserve critical city services by increasing employee contributions to pension and healthcare costs. Szabo also helped negotiate the pension reform charter amendment to reduce costs, stabilize the city's long-term financial outlook and make it easier to hire new firefighters and police officers.

When it became clear that the Occupy LA protests at City Hall Park were no longer sustainable, Szabo worked night and day with the Los Angeles Police Department and protest representatives to negotiate a peaceful withdrawal and evacuation + in stark contrast to the violence and unrest in other cities.

As Legislative Director to then-City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, Matt Szabo learned the importance providing basic city services, such as fixing sidewalks and filling potholes, which is why he plans to increase investment in road repair and maintenance, particularly on major arterials and streets in neighborhoods which have been neglected for too long.

As a city council deputy, and later as a deputy in the city attorney's office, Matt Szabo worked to reform the City's onerous gross receipts tax system to keep jobs in the City of Los Angeles. Szabo also worked with the mayor's business team to secure city council approval of a business tax holiday for new businesses, an internet business tax holiday and an automobile dealer tax exemption.

Szabo also supports greater city investment in planning and building and safety department resources, so City Hall can act as a partner + not an obstacle + to entrepreneurs seeking to open or expand their business. Szabo collaborated to advance the BuildLA program, which would put the permitting approval process online to create a more predictable, transparent and efficient development review process.

As an advisor to former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, Matt Szabo knows that the people of Los Angeles deserve leaders who are not afraid to think big and aim high. Szabo's vision for the future of the Thirteenth District and Los Angeles includes significantly more open space and transportation links between Hollywood, Century City, Wilshire Center, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Downtown.

Working with Councilman Eric Garcetti, Matt Szabo helped secure city council approval of the Hollywood Community Plan. As Councilmember, Szabo will ensure that the plan is implemented with the appropriate balance it is designed to achieve, and will use it to secure community benefits for all parts of the Thirteenth District + particularly for neighborhoods most in need of investment.

Matt is the oldest of three siblings. His father is a retired 32-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. His mother is a Registered Nurse, working the night shift at San Dimas Community Hospital for most of her career.