Thomas J. LaBonge (October 6, 1953 – January 7, 2021) was an American

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. A member of the Democratic Party, he served on the

Los Angeles City Council The Los Angeles City Council is the Legislature, lawmaking body for the Government of Los Angeles, city government of Los Angeles, California, the second largest city in the United States. It has 15 members who each represent the 15 city council ...

from 2001 to 2015, representing the city's 4th district.

Education

A graduate of John Marshall High School, LaBonge received his bachelor's degree in sociology from

California State University, Los Angeles California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is a public research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. Cal State LA offers 142 bachelor's degree programs, 122 m ...

Career

He was a member of the

representing the 4th district, serving from 2001 to 2015. He won a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of long-time council member John Ferraro. The district included a wide diversity of incomes and neighborhoods. During his time in office, he was the Chairman of the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee, Vice Chairman of the Transportation Committee and the Ad Hoc River Committee, and a member of the Trade, Commerce & Tourism Committee, and the Ad Hoc on Recovering Energy, Natural Resources & Economic Benefit from Waste for L.A. (RENEW LA) in the city of

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Before serving as councilman, LaBonge was Director of Community Relations at the Department of Water and Power, Special Assistant to Mayor

Richard Riordan Richard Joseph Riordan (May 1, 1930 – April 19, 2023) was an American businessman, investor, military commander, philanthropist, and politician. A decorated Korean War veteran and a member of the Republican Party, Riordan served as the 39th ...

, and Chief Deputy to Council President John Ferraro. LaBonge was a lifelong advocate for Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation, which fell in his old council district.

Personal life

He married graphic designer and illustrator Brigid Manning LaBonge in 1988. Before his death, LaBonge resided in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles with his wife and their two children, Mary-Cate and Charles.

Death

LaBonge died on January 7, 2021, at the age of 67.Tom LaBonge, former LA councilman and longtime fixture on local political scene, dies at 67
ABC. Retrieved January 7, 2021

References

External links

1953 births 2021 deaths California Democrats California State University, Los Angeles alumni Los Angeles City Council members People from Silver Lake, Los Angeles {{LosAngeles-stub