Candidate for
Council Member; City of Torrance

Since moving to Torrance more than 20 years ago, Pat and Terry Furey have been continuously involved in the Torrance community. They recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, having raised two children, Sunday and Patrick, both of whom attended Torrance public schools.

Pat Furey is employed by the County of Los Angeles as a Principal Deputy County Counsel assigned to the Children's Services Division. He is currently a supervising attorney at the Edelman Children's Court. Previously, he served as a training and advice counsel to the Department of Children and Family Services in Torrance for more than 3 years.

Terry Furey is a job developer for the Torrance Unified School District, where she has worked for more than 15 years. She assists children who are in various special education programs of the district to find employment in our community. Terry is also one of the organizers of California School Employees Association, Chapter 845 - the bargaining unit for Torrance paraeducators.

Pat is currently serving his third term as president of the Torrance Education Foundation. He and Terry have been members since the foundation was formed more than 16 years ago, and have been intimately involved in fundraising efforts that directly benefit the children who attend Torrance public schools. In 2007 they were the recipients of the James R. Armstrong Community Leadership Award in recognition of their contributions to Torrance schools and the community. In addition, they are both past recipients of the Honorary Service Award presented by the Parent Teachers Association for their service to our schools. Pat is currently a member of every PTA in Torrance.

Pat is also the Chair of the Torrance Unified School District Personnel Commission. He was appointed in 2006 as the labor union appointee on this three member panel that protects the interests of classified employees of the Torrance Unified School District. In addition, he also serves the school district as a member of the 7-11 Committee, which is charged with reviewing potential surplus property of the district.

Pat is the President of the Northwest Torrance Homeowners Association and has served continuously in that role since 2000. As president, he has advocated for residents of North Torrance in matters before the Torrance City Council, Torrance Planning Commission, Torrance Parks & Recreation Commission, and Torrance Traffic Commission. In addition, on a number of occasions Pat has served as a spokesperson for the coalition of Torrance homeowners associations concerning major issues that affect the entire city.

Pat recently completed his second term as a Torrance Civil Service Commissioner, including one year as the chair of the commission. He also served on Mayor Frank Scotto's Blue Ribbon Committee on Ethics and Integrity.

In his spare time, Pat has been a dedicated volunteer to Little League Baseball, District 27, for more than 20 years. In this volunteer position, he has officiated as an umpire in more than 1,000 games at Little League facilities throughout the Southern California area including all of the leagues located in Torrance.

Pat also served for more than 10 years as a volunteer Boy Scout Leader. He was a Den Leader and Committee Chair for Cub Scout Pack 948. He also served as a Troop Committee Member for Boy Scout Troop 592, and was a merit badge counselor for the South Bay District of BSA for Law, Journalism and Fingerprinting.

Pat was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After high school, he fulfilled his military obligation as an infantry soldier in the United States Army. And, before moving to Southern California in 1973, Pat served as a police officer in Philadelphia for a number of years.

Most of Pat's higher education was attained in Southern California, after meeting Terry and starting their family. He graduated with honors from the UCLA Attorney Assistant Training Program in 1986 and was employed as a legal assistant for nine years.

His education culminated with the Juris Doctor degree that was conferred on him in 1995. And, he has been a member of the California State Bar Association since being admitted to practice law that same year. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the California County Counsel Association.