Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Long Beach; District 8

Lillian Kawasaki has more than 35 years of experience in dedicated public service as a local elected official, policy maker, agency manager, scientific researcher, and educator.

As the Assistant General manager of Environmental Affairs for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Lillian managed environmental and economic development programs such as the Department's Clean Air Plan and solar programs. Prior to that, Lillian was the General Manager of the Los Angeles Community Development Department, where she led programs dedicated to economic and community revitalization, neighborhood and infrastructure improvements, gang prevention, youth and social services, and job training/workforce development. Lillian has also served as the head of the Port of Los Angeles' Environmental Management Division, proactively greening port development and growth.

In 2006, Lillian was elected to represent Long Beach and six surrounding cities on the Board of Directors of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD). Since then, she has overseen the management of the area's groundwater to ensure a clean, safe and reliable water supply. As chair of the WRD's Committee on Workforce and Economic Development, she promotes the development of water-related jobs and clean water technology.

Lillian Kawasaki was born in a military hospital in Denver, Colorado. She grew up as an "Army Brat," living many places throughout the country and overseas and eventually graduating high school in Southern California. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Science in Biology from California State University, Los Angeles.

Lillian and her husband, Craig Carter, reside in the Los Cerritos/Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, where they are actively involved in Long Beach and their community. Lillian serves on Historical Society of Long Beach's Advisory Committee and is co-chair of Friends of Manzanar - a National Historic site where Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II.

She frequently enjoys and participates in First Fridays, the annual Bixby Knolls Car Show, concerts in the park, and Rancho Los Cerritos.