Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 12

Mitchell Englander was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He attended valley public schools and has dedicated his life to public service and to making the Valley a safer and better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Since 2003, Mitch has served as the Chief of Staff to Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith, representing the communities of Granada Hills, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Chatsworth, North Hills, Lake Balboa, West Hills, Winnetka, Encino, Canoga Park and Reseda. Mitch has led the ongoing fight to protect our neighborhoods.

He was the architect of the plan that stopped the massive Las Lomas development. A tireless champion for the environment, Mitch has worked to preserve and protect open space and equestrian properties and to acquire new parkland. He helped create the RENEW LA plan, which will end our dependency on landfills while increasing our energy sustainability. Mitch led the effort to protect the North Valley's vital health and emergency resources by enabling the crucial expansion of Providence Holy Cross Hospital adding 136 new beds and the only LEED Certified hospital in California. He brought together the resources necessary to re-open the Northridge Pool after being closed for 10 years, and helped build the new Devonshire Police Activities League Youth Center providing a much-needed resource for local at-risk-youth. He helped implement business tax reform, and conceived of a plan that led to the hiring of 254 new LAPD officers without raising taxes.

As a Reserve LAPD Officer, Mitch has gone through the same rigorous hiring and training requirements as full time officers, attending the Los Angeles Police Academy. As a sworn officer, Mitch works in uniform, patrolling and protecting our community. As a Reserve, he has saved taxpayers more than $100,000.

Mitch has always been active in civic, philanthropic, and public safety activities. He is the immediate past Chair of the North Valley Family YMCA and serves on the boards of numerous community organizations including the American Diabetes Association, San Fernando Valley Jaycees, Providence Holy Cross Hospital, West Valley Boys and Girls Club, The Jewish Home for the Aging, Winnetka Community Foundation, Valley Leadership Institute, Devonshire Police Activities League (PALS), New Directions For Youth, New Horizons, Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire (SOLID), and is a member of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Wildlife and Endangered Species Committee.

Prior to entering public service, Mitch was a small business owner. His career accomplishments include helping local businesses expand and guiding community issue campaigns that fought overdevelopment, and prevented the closure of hundreds of Fire Stations throughout Los Angeles County.

Mitch was raised by a single mother who struggled to provide for her three children. His father, a disabled Veteran, left when he was a young boy and an uncle who helped raise him was later killed while being robbed in Canoga Park. Mitch's sister, a school teacher, suffered permanent brain damage when she was rushed to an emergency room whose doors were locked and wasn't able to receive medical aid in time. He looked after his sister as she struggled with her condition for 10 years. She later passed away at the young age of 40.

Mitch lives in Granada Hills with his high school sweetheart Jayne, their daughters Lindsey and Lauren, and their two Golden Retrievers. He is a devoted husband and father. In fact, he was recognized as Father of the Year by the National Father's Day Council - one of his proudest achievements.