Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 11

Mike Bonin is a community leader and grassroots activist with a track record of fighting for Westside neighborhoods for nearly two decades.

As chief deputy to Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, Mike has worked since 2005 to promote public safety, relieve traffic congestion, protect the environment, and make government more efficient and accountable to local residents.

As our district's chief deputy, Mike fought for increased police presence in the district and accelerated construction of mass transit projects. He helped win approval of a citywide Bicycle Master Plan and secured millions in funding to improve public pools, playgrounds, and skate parks. He also pushed for a cut in business taxes for Internet-based firms, keeping vital high-tech jobs from leaving Los Angeles.

Mike has worked to give residents of our district a voice in some of the biggest projects in Los Angeles history. He helped jump-start modernization at LAX, creating thousands of jobs while minimizing the impact on local residents. He brought the concerns of airport neighbors to the table during discussions on improving the LAX North Runway, winning praise for building consensus as Co-Chair of the North Runway Safety Advisory Committee. He is currently working to bring mass transit to the Westside via the Expo Line, serving as an alternate member of the Board of Directors of the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority.

Mike believes that government must fight homelessness, reduce poverty, and increase access to affordable housing. He crafted an innovative anti-homelessness program that resulted in finding homes for 100 homeless residents of the 11th District. Mike also helped secure over a million dollars for homelessness programs and affordable housing, and helped pass legislation that secured fair wages and benefits for airport-area workers.

Mike has a passion for civic activism and community organizing. In 2008, he served as a regional field organizer in California for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He is also the co-founder and program director of Camp Courage, an acclaimed training program for community organizers fighting for the freedom to marry for the LGBT community.

Mike has been a champion for Westside neighborhoods since 1996. In 2003 and 2004, Mike served as district director for U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman. Before that, Mike worked for seven years for former City Councilmember Ruth Galanter, serving as legislative deputy, district director, and deputy chief of staff. While working for Galanter, he handled public safety and environmental policy, as well as major district projects like the renovation of Venice Beach.

A longtime resident of Venice, Mike now lives in Mar Vista with his partner, Sean Arian, a policy expert in economic development and green jobs creation. Mike is a member of St. Monica's Church in Santa Monica. A former newspaper reporter, Mike graduated from Harvard University in 1989 with a B.A. in United States History.

Mike currently serves on the advisory boards of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy and Inside Community Arts, and is a member of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and West LA Democratic Club, the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, the Westchester Democratic Club, and the Stonewall Democratic Club.