Mike Feuer

Michael Nelson Feuer (born May 14, 1958) is an American politician and lawyer, who served as Los Angeles City Attorney from 2013 to 2022.

He graduated in 1976 from San Bernardino High School, where he was president and a valedictorian of his class.

Feuer received both a bachelor's degree (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and a J.D. degree (cum laude) from Harvard University.

He later served on the Harvard Law School Visiting Committee, which reports to the Harvard Board of Overseers.

He served as a judicial clerk to Justice Joseph Grodin of the California Supreme Court, and practiced law at two California law firms.

After briefly practicing law in the 1980s, Feuer worked as issues and research director for the second gubernatorial campaign of Tom Bradley, the first African-American Mayor of Los Angeles.

Feuer was then selected to serve as executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services, an organization which "provides legal services to the needy of all faiths".

He oversaw programs to help Alzheimer's patients, victims of the Northridge earthquake and L.A. civil unrest, and Holocaust survivors striving to obtain restitution.

He also taught at the UCLA School of Law.

Feuer was described by the Los Angeles Daily Journal as having transformed Bet Tzedek into a "national success story".

A member of the Democratic Party, Feuer previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 42nd Assembly District, and as a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1995 to 2001, representing the 5th Council District.

Prior to seeking office, Feuer served as executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services and was a lawyer in private practice.

He was a candidate in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, until he dropped out on May 17, 2022.

Feuer was born and raised in a Jewish family in San Bernardino, California.

From 1995 to 2001, Feuer served as the 5th District member of the Los Angeles City Council.

He was elected to fill a vacancy caused by the election of Councilmember Zev Yaroslavsky to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Feuer defeated Barbara Yaroslavsky, the outgoing councilmember's wife.

Feuer's City Council candidacy was endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, and supported by "a 'Who's Who' of Jewish community activists", as well as former Justice Joseph Grodin, who noted that Feuer "had a degree of self-confidence that made him unusual", though some criticized Feuer for this.

Feuer won the seat by a two-to-one margin.

On the City Council, Feuer chaired the Budget and Finance Committee, and wrote key City ethics reform measures.

He championed the creation of L.A.'s 3-1-1 non-emergency services system, wrote a number of gun violence prevention laws, and was noted for advocating public safety, environmental stewardship and open government.

Feuer also created a program to improve literacy for underserved students, and led Council efforts to create playgrounds for children with disabilities.

Feuer was the only council member to oppose a ballot measure to lift a $10,000 spending limit on "officeholder" funds, which Council Member Nate Holden criticized as "grandstanding."

Mark Ridley-Thomas also criticized Feuer, saying "Mister Feuer seems to suggest that there is a higher ground that [he has] staked out that the balance of the council does not seem to appreciate."

Some colleagues also blamed Feuer for the City Council's contentious relationship with Mayor Richard Riordan.

Feuer defended himself saying he was trying to make good on campaign promises for government and ethics reforms.

In 2001, Feuer ran for City Attorney.

He placed first in the nonpartisan primary for the office, taking 39% to opponent Rocky Delgadillo's 38%, but was defeated in the runoff, with Delgadillo taking 52% to Feuer's 48%, though Feuer received the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times, which noted his "record as an honest broker".

Afterward, Feuer worked in private practice and taught at the UCLA School of Public Affairs.

During this time, he provided commentary for newspapers and public radio.

In 2006, Feuer defeated West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land and three others in the Democratic primary for the 42nd Assembly District seat.

Feuer served as a member of the California State Assembly, 42nd District, from December 4, 2006, to November 30, 2012.

He served as the Majority Policy Leader of the California Assembly and Chair of the Assembly's Judiciary Committee.

During his time with the State Assembly, he authored numerous bills.

He wrote laws that prevent insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing health conditions.

He also wrote a law that requires nursing homes to post the quality care rating that has been given to them by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

He supported funding the Long Term care Ombudsman program which responds to reports of suspected abuse and neglect.

He authored the Reverse Mortgage Elder Protection Act that mandates more information when considering reverse mortgages, including risks and alternatives to using them.

He wrote a law that protects Good Samaritans from liability.

In 2010, he authored legislation requiring people convicted of DUI to install ignition interlock devices (IID's) in their cars.