José Huizar was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in November 2005 following his service as both President and Member of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District (2001-2005).  Councilmember Huizar was re-elected in March 2007.

Councilmember Huizar’s priorities include strengthening public education and youth programs, enhancing public safety, and sustainable economic development.

Council Committees

Chair Audits & Governmental Efficiency Vice Chair Planning & Land Use Management Member Budget & Finance Ad Hoc on Gang Violence and Youth Development Ad Hoc on the Los Angeles River

As President of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Councilmember Huizar earned a reputation as an aggressive policymaker who tackled difficult issues to get results for students and families. During his tenure with the District, Councilmember Huizar oversaw plans to build over 160 new schools within eight years, constituting the largest school construction program in the nation’s history.  In his final year as LAUSD Board President, Councilmember Huizar led the successful effort to reform the high school curriculum to ensure that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, will complete the A-G courses required for admission to one of California’s public universities.

Councilmember Huizar previously served as a Deputy City Attorney in the Real Estate and Environmental Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. He has also served as an associate with several law firms.

In 2004, Councilmember Huizar was selected to serve as a Trustee of Princeton University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including profiles by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 25 figures in the Los Angeles Area that “stand out for their potential to shape lives” and by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the “100 most influential Hispanics” in the United States.

José was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. He currently resides in Boyle Heights with his wife Richelle Rios, their young son Simón Luis and two daughters, Emilia and Isabella. 

José earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He received a Master’s degree in Public Affairs and Urban Planning from Princeton University and a Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law.

Council District 14 serves the communities of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Eagle Rock, Hermon, and portions of Highland Park, Glassell Park, Mt. Washington, and Downtown Los Angeles.

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