Lindsey Horvath

Lindsey Patrice Horvath (born June 30, 1982) is an American politician, advertising executive, and activist who is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the 3rd District, which covers the San Fernando Valley, and is the Chair Pro Tem of Los Angeles County.^[1] She was previously a Councilmember for West Hollywood, California and was twice the mayor.^[2]

Lindsey Horvath
Chair pro tempore of Los Angeles County
Incumbent
Assumed office December 6, 2022
Preceded by	Sheila Kuehl
Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 3rd District
Incumbent
Assumed office December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Sheila Kuehl
Mayor of West Hollywood
In office May 18, 2020 – September 20, 2021
Preceded by	John D'Amico
Succeeded by	Lauren Meister
In office April 30, 2015 – April 30, 2016
Preceded by	John D'Amico
Succeeded by	Lauren Meister
Mayor pro tempore of West Hollywood
In office March 18, 2019 – May 18, 2020
Preceded by	John D’Amico
Succeeded by	John Heilman
Member of the West Hollywood City Council
In office March 19, 2015 – December 5, 2022
Preceded by	John Heilman
Succeeded by	John Heilman
In office May 6, 2009 – March 10, 2011
Preceded by	Sal Guarriello
Succeeded by	John D’Amico
Personal details
Born	(1982-06-30) June 30, 1982 (age 41) Painesville, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican (before 2003) Democratic (2003–present)
Education	University of Notre Dame (BA)

Early life and career

Horvath was born in 1982 in Zanesville, Ohio, growing up in Wickliffe, Ohio and Las Vegas, Nevada before going to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.^[3] She has one younger brother but comes from a large family, with her parents being the youngest of multi-sibling households.^[3] She attended Catholic schools in Ohio and private high school in Las Vegas.^[3] As a teenager, Gloria Allred and Hillary Clinton were some of her role models.^[3] While at Notre Dame, Horvath was a registered Republican, but switched her party affiliation to Democratic in 2003.^[4] She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and gender studies.^[5][6] At Notre Dame, she participated in a performance of The Vagina Monologues which caused controversy with the administration, and also was vice president of the College Republicans.^[3]

She moved to Los Angeles, California after graduating from college intending to go into law school, and attended musical theater school instead. After working in advertising, she founded the Hollywood chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). In 2007, she was appointed to the Women's Advisory Board for West Hollywood, and was elected chair after eight months.^[3]

Political career

 

Horvath as a West Hollywood Councilmember.

West Hollywood

In 2009, Horvath was appointed to the West Hollywood City Council after the death Councilman Sal Guarriello, which upset some residents as Horvath had only lived in the city for two years.^[4] In 2011, she lost her first election to John D’Amico.^[7][8] On March 3, 2015, she was elected back onto the City Council, defeating John Heilman.^[9] After her swearing in, councilmember John Duran filed a motion to make Horvath the mayor for the coming year, which was approved by the Council unanimously.^[10][11] As a councilmember and mayor, she helped approve the minimum wage of $17.64 per hour and helped with the downsizing of the number of sheriffs in the city.^[12][13]

On April 20, 2020, the City Council chose Horvath as mayor for a second time, with John Heilman as the Mayor Pro Tempore.^[14] She was sworn in for a second time on May 18, 2020.^[15] Her second term expired on September 20, 2021, to which her Mayor Pro Tempore, Lauren Meister, became mayor for a second time.^[16][17]

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

In 2021, Horvath announced that she was running to replace Sheila Kuehl on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors after Kuehl said she would retire.^[18][19] She was challenged by State Senators Robert Hertzberg and Henry Stern, with Stern being eliminated in the primary election after placing third.^[20] During her campaign, she received criticism for removing parts of her biography pertaining to West Hollywood.^[12] In the general election, Horvath upset Hertzberg with 52.97% of the vote.^[21]

Shortly after assuming office, Horvath authored a proclamation of local emergency for homelessness in Los Angeles County..^[22][23]

References

1. Campa, Andrew J. (November 18, 2022). "Horvath declares victory in Los Angeles County supervisors race". Los Angeles Times.
2. Chiotakis, Steve (May 10, 2022). "Meet Lindsey Horvath: Candidate for LA County Supervisor 3rd District". KCRW.
3. Anderson, Joshua (2014-11-16). "An Oral History with LINDSEY HORVAT" (PDF).
4. Bajko, Matthew S. (March 2, 2011). "Political Notebook: Council race roils West Hollywood". Bay Area Reporter.
5. Bangs, Tessa (March 18, 2016). "Political Science Alumna Brings Passion for Service to West Hollywood Mayor's Office". Notre Dame College of Arts and Letters.
6. "Lindsey P. Horvath" (PDF). Los Angeles County.
7. Linthicum, Kate (March 10, 2011). "Race spotlights clash over West Hollywood's future". Los Angeles Times.
8. Hererra, Jose (February 17, 2011). "Seven Candidates Challenge Incumbents in WeHo Election". Park Labrea News & Beverly Press.
9. Branson-Potts, Hailey (November 10, 2020). "In West Hollywood, two longtime council members, John Duran and John Heilman, lose bids for reelection". Los Angeles Times.
10. Van Dyke, Jonathan (March 19, 2015). "New members sworn into WeHo council". Park Labrea News & Beverly Press.
11. Branson-Potts, Hailey (March 17, 2015). "West Hollywood makeover: Council will be led by women". Chicago Tribune.
12. Branson-Potts, Hailey; Park, Jeong (July 5, 2022). "Seeking higher office, WeHo councilwoman scrubs WeHo from her bio". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
13. Smith, Hayley (November 5, 2021). "West Hollywood OKs highest minimum wage in the country for some workers: $17.64 an hour". Los Angeles Times.
14. "Lindsey Horvath Will Become WeHo's New Mayor; John Heilman Its Mayor Pro Tem". WEHOville. April 20, 2020.
15. Hererra, Jose (14 May 2020). "Horvath takes the reins in West Hollywood". Park Labrea News & Beverly Press.
16. Braslow, Samuel (August 23, 2021). "WeHo Elects New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore". The Beverly Hills Courier.
17. "West Hollywood Mayor Horvath passes baton to Lauren Meister". Los Angeles Blade. August 17, 2021.
18. "Why I'm Running: Lindsey Horvath". Los Angeles Blade. May 13, 2022.
19. Figueroa, Ana (April 24, 2021). "West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath Announces Candidacy for L.A. Board of Supervisors". The Beverly Hills Courier.
20. Sawicki, Emily (April 5, 2022). "Common ground for two supervisor candidates". Santa Monica Daily Press.
21. "LA County Board of Supervisors Results: Lindsey Horvath Beats Bob Hertzberg". LAist. November 18, 2022.
22. Sawicki. Emily (April 5, 2022). "Common ground for two supervisor candidates". Santa Monica Daily Press.
23. Ellis, Rebecca (January 10, 2023). "With state of emergency on homelessness, L.A. County officials look for red tape to cut". Los Angeles Times.