Jeffrey Prang, West Hollywood City Councilmember and four-time Mayor has announced his candidacy for Los Angeles County Assessor in next year’s election.
Former County Assessors Rick Auerbach and Kenneth P. Hahn have already endorsed Prang, who currently serves as the Special Assistant for Public Affairs in the Office of Assessor. His endorsements include support from more than 50 current and retired elected officials, including State Controller John Chiang, who is also a member of the State Board of Equalization which oversees all of California’s County Assessor Departments.
Jeff returned to work in the Assessor’s Department last year and has helped stabilize and reform an office badly demoralized by the ongoing legal problems facing current Assessor John Noguez, who has taken a leave of absence while facing charges of corruption and bribery. According to Prang, “my top priority as Assessor will be to restore the reputation of this department as the finest and fairest public office in the nation, treating all property owners and taxpayers with dignity and respect while producing a fair and reliable Trillion-Dollar Assessment Roll based on Proposition 13 guidelines.”
Since his return, Jeff has worked closely with several Assessor Chief Deputies, who were chosen by the Board of Supervisors to help manage the Department in the absence of Noguez. Jeff originally worked as a Special Assistant to Assessor Hahn in the 1990s and later served as a member of Assessor Auerbach’s Community Advisory Council. He has completed real estate appraiser training courses and served as President of the California Contract Cities Association as well as Senior Advisor to both Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca and former Los Angeles City Council President Ruth Galanter.
Jeff Prang was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated with a BA in International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University. He also holds a certificate from the Harvard University JFK School of Government Programs for Senior Executives in Local and State Government as well as a certificate from the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy.
“Among my goals is to ensure that Proposition 13 is fairly applied for all homeowners and businesses alike, as Assessor Hahn once successfully did in a court challenge,” Prang said, “and to enhance user-friendly internet access to our data and to restore Assessor Auerbach’s Property Owners Advocate Program in a new and modernized structure.”
Jeffrey Prang was first elected to the West Hollywood City Council in 1997. He was re-elected in 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013, and has served as Mayor from 2000-01, 2003-04, 2008-09, and 2012-13.
Throughout his career in local government, Councilmember Prang has found the time to serve on several key boards and commissions, including the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, the American Russian Medical Association Advisory Board, the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Los Angeles County Library Commission. He was also a member and Chair of the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission from 1994-1997, and now serves as Chair of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District – District 4, and the Los Angeles County Sanitation District Finance Authority.
In 2000, he was appointed by the Senate Rules Committee to the California Council on Criminal Justice. In 2001, Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg appointed him to the California Council on Interstate Adult Offender Supervision; he was reappointed by Speaker Herb Wesson, Jr.
In 2006, Councilmember Prang was elected as President of the California Contract Cities Association, a statewide education and advocacy organization representing California municipalities.
Professionally, Jeffrey Prang currently serves a member of the Executive Staff in the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office. Prior to that he served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Pico Rivera; Senior Advisor to Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca; Director of Public Information, City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services; Press Deputy to Los Angeles City Council President Ruth Galanter and Special Assistant to Los Angeles County Assessor Kenneth P. Hahn.
Councilmember Prang has served on the LA County Library Commission, and as Chair of LA County Sanitation District No. 4 and its Public Finance Authority.
Active and well-respected within the Democratic Party, Councilmember Prang has also served as a member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee and the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party. He served on the Platform Committee for the 1996 Democratic National Convention and is a past President of the West Hollywood Democratic Club.
Prang is a Board Member of The Wall Las Memorias Project (HIV/AIDS Service Agency), Past Board Member, Caring for Babies with AIDS, Past Executive Board, International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials
Co-Chair, LAUSD Gay & Lesbian Advisory Committee, Created West Hollywood’s Transgender Advisory Board
As a member of the Platform Committee to the 1996 Democratic National Convention, Councilmember Prang co-authored platform planks on HIV, breast cancer, and adoption assistance for LGBT parents. Prang founded the LGBT Cause of the League of California Cities and is a Former Board Member, Stonewall Democratic Club