November 2022 is a year away, but West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister is not wasting any time announcing that she is running for re-election next year.
“Just wanted to let all my Facebook friends know that I will be running for re-election to West Hollywood City Council,” she posted on her Facebook timeline today. “I know November 2022 seems far off, but it will be here in a blink of an eye.”
Council member John D’Amico has stated that he will not be running for re-election and it’s too soon to say whether council member Linsey Horvath will put her name in the hat for another run at city council. She is currently campaigning as a candidate for Los Angeles County Supervisor.
According to the bio in Mayor Meister’s campaign website https://www.meister4weho.com:
“After nearly two decades as a neighborhood advocate, Lauren Meister was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 3, 2015, and re-elected for her second term on March 5, 2019.
Since being elected, Councilmember Meister has worked on initiatives to: provide social services for people who are homeless, develop more neighborhood-friendly planning and land use policies, strengthen the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, create a Small Business Task Force, establish West Hollywood as a safe haven for LGBT asylum seekers, increase community engagement and transparency, implement a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program, educate the public on safety issues related to children and pets, embrace and promote our historic resources, and, raise the bar on design standards, environmental programs, and sustainability.
Sammy, Lauren, and Suki at home in Weho (2021)As Mayor (April 2016-May 2017), she joined with Mayors from across the nation to show support for preserving the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and protecting LGBT, immigrant and refugee communities. She also initiated an item to take steps to prohibit West Hollywood City Hall from doing business with entities that provide financial or other benefits to the President of the United States and develop socially conscious banking policies.
Among Councilmember Meister’s priorities:
- Initiating and supporting policies to save our affordable housing stock and local neighborhood serving businesses
- Prioritizing public safety, social services, and housing production to reflect the needs of our community
- Preserving our city’s rich history and unique character
- Protecting parks and increasing green space
- Advocating for safe mobility options and fair parking policies
Councilmember Meister became involved with the City of West Hollywood as a neighborhood watch captain, took the LASD Community Emergency Response Team “CERT” training, and attended the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Community Academy. She went on to lead the largest neighborhood association in the city, representing residents on issues such as public safety, traffic circulation, parking and development.
Prior to her election, Lauren served on numerous commissions and committees for the City of West Hollywood, including the Planning Commission and Public Safety Commission. She worked to mitigate traffic and parking impacts of new and proposed projects in the City, supported creative parking solutions to help neighborhood businesses, initiated the City’s “Live, Work, Play, Be Safe” educational campaign, and supported new ideas to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety. She also worked on campaign finance reform and has been a strong advocate for a stricter code of ethics.
At the request of former Congressmember Henry Waxman, Lauren testified before Congress in support of health insurance regulation and universal health care, and she worked with City of Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz to reduce helicopter noise in residential neighborhoods.
In 2013, Lauren served as Chair of the successful “Yes on Measure C” Term Limits for West Hollywood committee, limiting all Council members elected on or after March 2013 to no more than three full or partial terms on the City Council.
Professionally, Lauren is the sole proprietor of her own marketing research firm based in West Hollywood. As a businesswoman and market research professional, she listens to public opinion to form action-oriented solutions, understands the importance of budgets and resources, and believes that the City must provide good customer service and be accountable.
Lauren received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and graduated with high honors (Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s List scholar). In 2014, she received a Certificate of Completion in Civic Mediation from the LA County Bar Association/Center for Civic Mediation. In 2020, she received a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University (online graduate school program).
A resident of West Hollywood for over 30 years, Lauren has been both a renter and a homeowner in the City. Lauren’s parents, sister, and adorable rescue dogs, Suki and Sammy, also call West Hollywood home.
