On Friday City Councilman-Elect David Ryu named Sarah Dusseault as his Chief of Staff. He released the announcement via an email and on Davidryu.com.
“I am excited to welcome Sarah to my team,” Ryu said in the press release. “Sarah has an innovative spirit and the City Hall experience necessary to help me chart an effective new course for the neighborhoods of CD4. She is a dedicated public servant and policy expert, who has a proven track record of delivering results for the people of Los Angeles.”
Dusseault most recently served as campaign manager and senior advisor for the Bobby Shriver for Supervisor campaign in late 2014. Prior to that she worked as the key policy advisor to Eric Garcetti in his campaign for the 2013 mayoral race, and from 2006-2012 guided then Councilman Garcetti’s legislative agenda which included implementing neighborhood initiatives including tenants rights in foreclosed properties. Dusseault began her career in city politics working with Mayor Jim Hahn in 2000 as his campaign policy director, eventually moving up the ranks to become Hahn’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Homelessness where she helped with efforts to revitalize downtown LA and create LA’s affordable housing trust fund.
“I am honored to join Team Ryu,” Desseault stated in the press release. “I am excited to get to work on legislation and initiatives that put the neighborhoods first at City Hall. I look forward to joining the team and working on behalf of the community.”
Dusseault earned her B.A. from Yale College, and her J.D. from UCLA. She is married to Chris Dusseault, a key member of the legal team for Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case that successfully challenged and overturned California’s Proposition 8 before the United States Supreme Court. They live in Pasadena with their two sons.