Rick Tuttle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rick Tuttle
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Tuttle in 2014
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| 16th City Controller of Los Angeles | |
| In office July 1, 1985 – July 1, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | James Hahn |
| Succeeded by | Laura N. Chick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 5, 1940 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Muff Singer (1976–2005) Rebecca Rona-Tuttle (2008–present) |
| Children | Sarah Tuttle-Singer |
| Parents | Frederick Burton and Mary Emily Tuttle |
| Residence | Culver City, California |
| Alma mater | Wesleyan University, University of California, Los Angeles |
Rick Tuttle (born January 5, 1940) is an American politician, university leader, and teacher from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for serving as the Los Angeles City Controller, which means he was in charge of checking the city's money.
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Rick Tuttle's Early Life
Rick Tuttle was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He was one of four children. His father, Frederick, came from a very old family in New England. His mother's family was from Arkansas.
Because his father was in the U.S. Marine Corps, Rick's family moved around a lot. They lived in Arkansas, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. They finally settled in Plattsburgh, New York, where Rick finished high school.
Rick's father was a high school track coach and later a school principal. He was also a member of the NAACP, a group that works for civil rights. His father's involvement in helping the community really inspired Rick.
Rick Tuttle's Education and College Years
Rick Tuttle studied history in college. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1962. He then got a master's degree in 1964 and a Ph.D. in 1975 from UCLA.
To pay for college, Rick worked many different jobs. He worked at construction sites and even as a farm hand. While at Wesleyan, he was part of the university's Civil Rights Committee. He helped lead a campaign to change his fraternity's rule that only Christians could join.
Fighting for Civil Rights
While studying at UCLA, Rick Tuttle became very active in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1961, he joined the Freedom Riders. These brave people rode buses into the Southern United States to challenge unfair segregation laws.
In 1963, he joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This group worked to register African Americans to vote. Rick went to Greenwood, Mississippi to help with voter registration. He even secretly watched meetings of groups that supported white supremacy.
Rick had to leave Mississippi because of threats. He then went to Savannah, Georgia, to help with another voter registration effort. There, he was arrested for "disturbing the peace" and spent six weeks in jail. He was eventually released after a local doctor helped him.
Serving the Public in Los Angeles
Rick Tuttle was elected as the Los Angeles City Controller four times. This job is like being the city's main accountant. The City Controller makes sure the city's money is spent wisely and correctly. He served from 1985 to 2001.
He won his elections by a lot! In 1985, he was the only candidate. He won with 100% of the vote. In later elections, he still won with over 70% of the votes.
Rick became known for being very careful with the city's money. The Los Angeles Times newspaper praised him. They said he was the kind of public servant everyone would want. He checked expenses, audited the city's books, and made sure people got paid. He also helped modernize the city's payroll system.
When he retired, a newspaper writer said Rick always worked to "follow the money." He used his power to audit and make sure things were fair. He helped make sure audits were required in the new City Charter. He also pushed for civil rights rules to make private clubs in downtown Los Angeles open to everyone. He even refused to pay for expensive dinner tabs or private jet flights for city officials!
Rick Tuttle is a member of the Democratic Party. He was involved in politics from a young age. In 1968, he co-chaired a group for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. He also helped start the Los Angeles County Young Democrats.
Rick Tuttle's Academic Career
After his time as City Controller, Rick Tuttle went back to UCLA. He became the executive director of the Dashew International Center for Students and Scholars. He worked there until 2006.
Since then, he has taught classes at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He teaches about public policy, which is how governments make decisions. His students voted him "public policy professor of the year" three times! He believes it's important to have a strong democratic tradition at UCLA.
Awards and Recognition
Rick Tuttle has received many awards for his public service and work. Some of these include:
- The Equal Justice in Government Award from the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
- The Distinguished Public Service Award from the Anti-Defamation League.
- The Lifetime Membership Award from the Los Angeles Business Council.
- The UCLA Alumni Public Service Award.
- The Los Angeles Employee of the Year Award in 1997.
Personal Life
Rick Tuttle met his first wife, Muff Singer, while they were both working on Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. They married in 1976. Muff was a talented writer of children's books. They had one daughter, Sarah Emily. Muff passed away in 2005.
In 2008, Rick married Rebecca Rona. Rebecca is a writer and an activist. She works to promote good human relations and understanding. She has also worked to stop oil extraction in her community. In 2018, she received an award as "Democrat of the Year" for her work.
In his free time, Rick Tuttle loves basketball. He was known for being one of the oldest people playing full-court basketball in Los Angeles!
