Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 53

Paul Michael Nowatka

Paul Nowatka was elected to the Torrance City Council in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004 when he ran unopposed.

Prior to his time on the City Council, Paul completed over 30 years of honorable service with the Torrance Police Department.

During his police career, Lieutenant Nowatka served as Adjutant to the Chief of Police, Commanding Officer of the Research and Training Division, Communications Division and as a Watch Commander.

During his tenure as Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Nowatka made many significant contributions to the administrative and operational functions of the police department.

Paul Nowatka currently serves on the faculty of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Museum of Tolerance where he facilitates the training of thousands of police professionals that come to the Center from throughout the state to learn about the dynamics of "tolerance" within our diverse communities.

Paul is well suited for this position by virtue of his many successful years on the Torrance Police Department, his efforts with The Leadership Torrance-South Bay Steering Committee, membership in the Torrance Human Relations Forum and as two time chairman of the Torrance Community Services Commission.

Paul is a member of the Educational Council of Torrance, a board Member of the Torrance Education Foundation and a former member of the Torrance Unified School District Citizens' Oversight Committee for Facilities.

Mr. Nowatka serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Salvation Army. Working with the Salvation Army after 9/11, Paul Nowatka traveled to the World Trade Center to help feed and care for the thousands of volunteers and government officials who performed search, rescue and recovery operations.

Paul is serving his second term representing Torrance, Lomita and Carson as a Director for the Southern California Association of Governments. He serves on the Community, Environment and Human Development Committee, chairs the regional Housing Summit and Works on the Benchmarks and Strategic Planning task Forces. He is also working on the team writing the Regional Comprehensive Plan.

He is an active alumnus of the University of Southern California's Delinquency Control Institute and currently participates on its alumni Board of Directors. The Delinquency Control Institute is a nationally recognized training center that deals with prevention issues regarding youthful offenders.

Paul currently serves as Chair of the Citizen Development and Enrichment Committee, a member of the Community Planning and Design Committee and is the Chairman of the Workforce Investment Network Policy Board.

Paul served as a Torrance Community Services Commissioner from 1995-2000. Councilman Nowatka has also been involved in the Torrance Coordinating Council, the Torrance Historical Society, Sister City Association, friends of Madrona Marsh and the Rose Float Association.

Paul completed both his undergraduate (BA) and graduate studies (MPA) at the University of Southern California where he majored in Public Administration.

Paul is also a Past Area Director and Governor with the Active 20-30 Club, where he won the international "Outstanding Governor" award.

Recently Councilman Nowatka was appointed Chairman of the 53rd Assembly District "Save the Seal" committee. This organization is dedicated to giving the voters a chance to vote on retaining the L.A. County Seal.

Paul is a member of the "Go for Broke" Foundation and the Japanese American Republican Club.

Paul is married to Helen and they have six children and 10 grandchildren. He has lived in Torrance for 49 years. He is a graduate of Westchester Elementary, Westchester Junior High and Westchester High School.

His Military Service included a tour in the Naval Reserve and the regular Army. Paul was a Military Policeman and spent 13 months in Korea. He is a life member of the VFW. Paul is past Chairman of the Torrance Armed Forces Ad Hoc Committee.