“All politics is local” and there’s nothing more local than serving on your Neighborhood Council. Here’s your chance to make your voice heard in the non-partisan, uniquely grassroots neighborhood councils formed by the Los Angeles City Charter to advise the City Council on issues of concern to our neighborhood and on City governance.
The expression, “All politics is local” is most closely associated with former Democratic House Speaker Tip O’Neill, though political experts say the term was first used by Washington AP bureau chief Byron Price in 1932. Tip O’Neill used the term in 1935 when he entered politics, and it has become short hand for the importance of working for voters on what they care most about; everyday services like street trees, traffic safety, local zoning, crime reduction, earthquake preparedness, etc. That’s exactly what the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council addresses at their monthly board meetings and through their standing committees on Land Use, Transportation, Outreach and Sustainability.
Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board members are people who live, work or own property in our Greater Wilshire neighborhoods, and are directly elected by the residents of those neighborhoods. Board membership is a great way to learn more about your neighborhood and how our local government works, and a great way to help your neighbors.  There are no formal qualifications other than living, working or owning property in the area, and board members run the gamut from curious newcomers to folks with several decades of community service experience.  Everyone is welcome. If you live, work, own property or fit into one of six special interest categories in the GWNC area, and if you are 18 years old by election day, you are eligible to run and vote.
Candidate registration is now open for all 21 board seats: 15 by geographic region and 6 by special interest category (representing Renters, Business, Education, Religion, Other Non-Profit groups, and At-Large). Those elected would serve a two-year term beginning in April 2019. You can register as a candidates at https://clerkappsele.lacity.org/nccr/#/login. The deadline for candidate registration is January 15, 2019.
To register as a candidate for a specific seat, you must provide official documentation confirming your status as a stakeholder in one of the geographic areas, or your connection to an appropriate organization or stakeholder group for one of the special interest seats.The deadline to submit candidate documentation: 5:00 p.m. 01/18/2019. Currently there are nine certified candidates running for the board.
This year the City Clerk’s Office, which is overseeing Neighborhood Council elections citywide, will certify eligible candidates in accordance with the GWNC bylaws that have been approved by the city. More information on the GWNC elections can also be found at http://greaterwilshire.org/2019-elections/ Election day for Greater Wilshire is March 31, 2019.
So here’s your chance to “be the change you want to see” in your neighborhood. (Now who said that? Perhaps Mahatma Ghandi in some other form. But that’s another story…)
