Herb Wesson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herb Wesson
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Wesson in 2017
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| President of the Los Angeles City Council | |
| In office January 12, 2012 – January 5, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Eric Garcetti |
| Succeeded by | Nury Martinez |
| Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 10th district |
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| In office July 1, 2005 – December 14, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Martin Ludlow |
| Succeeded by | Mark Ridley-Thomas |
| In office March 17, 2022 – August 25, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Ridley-Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Heather Hutt |
| 65th Speaker of the California State Assembly | |
| In office February 6, 2002 – February 9, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Hertzberg |
| Succeeded by | Fabian Núñez |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 47th district |
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| In office December 7, 1998 – December 6, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin Murray |
| Succeeded by | Karen Bass |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Herman J. Wesson Jr.
November 11, 1951 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Fabian |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Education | Lincoln University (BA) |
Herman J. "Herb" Wesson Jr. (born November 11, 1951) is an American politician. He served as a councilmember for the 10th District in Los Angeles. He held this role for three terms from 2005 to 2020. He also served briefly in 2022. Wesson was also the President of the Los Angeles City Council. Before that, he was the Speaker of the California State Assembly.
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Herb Wesson's Early Life
Herb Wesson was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 11, 1951. He has one younger brother. He studied history at Lincoln University. He graduated in 1999.
Before becoming a state assembly member, Wesson worked for other politicians. He was the chief of staff for Los Angeles City Council Member Nate Holden. He also worked for Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Burke. A chief of staff helps manage the daily work and plans for a politician. Wesson is a member of the Democratic Party.
Wesson's Family Life
Herb Wesson is married to Fabian. They have four children together.
Serving in the State Assembly
Wesson was a member of the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2004. He represented the 47th district. In January 2002, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He held this important role until February 2004. He was the second African-American person to become Speaker of the California Assembly. As Speaker, he helped guide laws about education, protecting the environment, and healthcare.
Working on the City Council
On November 8, 2005, Herb Wesson was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. He represented the 10th Council District. This district covers many neighborhoods in central and South Los Angeles. Some of these areas include Koreatown, West Adams, and Leimert Park.
Wesson won a full term in March 2007. He was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. He served until December 2020. In 2022, he was appointed to the 10th district seat again for a short time. He served from March 2022 until August 2022.
Boosting Los Angeles's Economy
In July 2015, Wesson started a committee. Its goal was to find ways to make Los Angeles more friendly for businesses. During his time on the City Council, new projects were built in his district. These included Midtown Crossing and the Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Medical Offices.
Promoting Race Relations
In October 2016, Wesson announced a program called embRACE L.A. This program aimed to encourage people in Los Angeles to talk about race, ethnicity, and diversity. He worked with Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell on this project. They wanted to help people understand each other better.
Supporting the Olympic Bid
Wesson led the City Council's committee for the 2024 Summer Olympics. On January 25, 2017, he voted to approve Los Angeles's bid to host the games. Later, Los Angeles decided to bid for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games instead. Wesson and the City Council voted for this new plan. On September 13, 2017, Los Angeles was officially chosen to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Helping Immigrants in Los Angeles
In December 2016, the City Council created a $10 million fund. This money was to help Los Angeles residents who might face deportation. It provided legal help for them. In January 2017, Wesson supported hiring an "immigrant advocate" for the city. This person would help immigrants.
In April 2017, Wesson welcomed leaders from Mexico. They talked about how Los Angeles and Mexican states could work together. Wesson made each Mexican leader an honorary citizen of Los Angeles.
Community Programs
Herb Wesson also started several programs to help the community.
Camping Trips for Kids
Every year, Wesson worked with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. They organized a camping trip for about 150 children. These children came from communities that needed extra support. The trips took place at Hansen Dam.
Movies in the Park
Each summer, Wesson hosted "Movies in the Park." These were free movie screenings in his district. They showed family-friendly films. The events offered a fun and safe place for everyone. Attendees also received a meal, drinks, popcorn, and candy. There were also raffle drawings for prizes.
Winter Wonderland Event
Wesson's Winter Wonderland was a special holiday event. It featured a tobogganing course made from real snow. There were also holiday arts and crafts, lunch, and a visit from Santa Claus. Wesson gave toys to all the children who attended. He also raffled off bigger prizes, like bicycles. In December 2015, he gave computers to 350 families.
After the City Council
In 2020, Wesson ran for a seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He ran to represent the County's 2nd district. However, State Senator Holly Mitchell won the election. She received over 60% of the votes.
