Richard Alarcon

Richard Anthony Alarcon (born November 24, 1953) is a California politician who was a Los Angeles City Council member. A Democrat, he served in the California State Senate and, for approximately three months, in the California State Assembly.

Not to be confused with Ricardo Alarcón.

Richard Alarcon
Member of Los Angeles City Council from the 7th district
In office 2007-2013
Preceded by	Alex Padilla
Succeeded by	Felipe Fuentes
In office 1993–1998
Preceded by	Ernani Bernardi
Succeeded by	Alex Padilla
Member of the California State Assembly from the 39th district
In office 2006–2007
Preceded by	Cindy Montañez
Succeeded by	Felipe Fuentes
Member of the California Senate from the 20th district
In office 1998–2006
Preceded by	Herschel Rosenthal
Succeeded by	Alex Padilla
Personal details
Born	(1953-11-24) November 24, 1953 Glendale, California
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Los Angeles, California
Website	www.lacity.org/council/cd7/

Alarcon first served as an assistant to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley before gaining a seat on the City Council to represent the 7th District in 1993. One year into his second term as a City Councilman, Alarcon resigned to become a State Senator in 1998, representing the 20th Senate district. Term limits prevented him from seeking a third Senate term in December 2006. Among Alarcon's accomplishments while in the California Senate were workers' compensation reform and recovery funding for the community of Northridge following the deadly earthquake of 1994. Alarcon served as Majority Whip during all eight of his years in the State Senate.

During the San Fernando Valley secession movement of 2002, there was talk that if the Valley seceded, Alarcon might become mayor of the new city. Alarcon decided not to run for Valley mayor, and instead opposed secession.[1] Alarcon's council district was the most opposed to secession of any district in the San Fernando Valley.

In 2005, Alarcon ran for mayor of Los Angeles. He finished a distant fifth, gaining less than 2% of the vote, behind Bernard Parks, Bob Hertzberg, incumbent James Hahn, and Antonio Villaraigosa. After serving as a state senator for 8 years, in 2006 Alarcon ran unopposed for California's 39th State Assembly district representing the San Fernando Valley area.

Shortly after winning office, Alarcon announced his intention to seek a third term in 2007 as Los Angeles City Councilman in the 7th district, replacing Alex Padilla, who was resigning after winning a seat on State Senate.[2] In the special election, held in March, Alarcon won easily (receiving 54% to 29% for his closest opponent).[3] He resigned from the Assembly soon thereafter. His 102-day tenure in the Assembly was the shortest service in the California legislature since 1981, excluding one person elected but not sworn in.[4]

Richard Alarcon has four children who were educated in public schools in the San Fernando Valley. He is a former teacher. Alarcon lost a son to a fatal car accident.

He is a graduate of California State University, Northridge. He is Roman Catholic.

Residency scandal

In August 2010 Alarcon was indicted on perjury and voter fraud charges for not living in his district and lying in campaign disclosure documents about his official residence.[5]

Six members of his staff—chief of staff Saeed Ali as well as Becca Doten, Ackley Padilla, Lidia Soto, Nancy Hodges and John de la Rosa—testified in front of a grand jury on July 7.[6]

He has raised at least $9,000 from donors to cover legal fees he may face as the investigation continues.[7]

The charges were dismissed by Judge Kathleen Kennedy in May 2012, but District Attorney Steve Cooley refiled them. Alarcon was charged with 18 counts involving false declaration of candidacy, fraudulent voting, and perjury.[8] On July 23, 2014, Alarcon was convicted of three counts of voter fraud and one count of perjury.[9] After serving his full sentence through 51 days of house arrest, his conviction was overturned by an appeals court.[10] Charges were again refiled.[11]

External links

• Official City Council website
• Appearances on C-SPAN

References

1. Raphael Sonenshien, The City at Stake, p. 231
2. Zahniser, David (28 February 2007). "Revolving Door". LA Weekly. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
3. "Special Election Certified Results". Los Angeles City Clerk. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
4. "Shortest Terms in Office". JoinCalifornia. One Voter Project. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
5. Zahniser, David; Leonard, Leonard (4 August 2010). "Councilman Richard Alarcon indicted on perjury and voter fraud charges". Los Angeles Times.
6. Zahniser, David (5 July 2010). "L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon's staff ordered to appear before grand jury". Los Angeles Times.
7. Dave, Paresh (20 July 2010). "L.A. Councilmember Alarcón Raises $9,000 For Legal Fees". Neon Tommy.
8. "District Attorney Refiles Criminal Charges Against Richard Alarcon, Wife Over Residency". CBS Los Angeles. 3 May 2012.
9. Karlamangla, Soumya; Zahniser, David (23 July 2014). "Guilty verdicts another blow to Alarcon family". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
10. Karlamangla, Soumya; Zahniser, David (20 January 2016). "Appeals court overturns Richard Alarcon's conviction in residency case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
11. Pringle, Paul (22 April 2016). "Alarcon and his wife will be retried on perjury and voter fraud charges, prosecutors say". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

Political offices
Preceded by Ernani Bernardi	Los Angeles City Councilmember, 7th District 1993–1998	Succeeded by Alex Padilla
Preceded by Herschel Rosenthal	California State Senator, 20th District 1998–2006
Preceded by Cindy Montañez	California State Assemblymember, 39th District 2006–2007	Succeeded by Felipe Fuentes
Preceded by Alex Padilla	Los Angeles City Councilmember, 7th District 2007 – 2013	Succeeded by Felipe Fuentes