Tom LaBonge
Thomas J. LaBonge is an American politician. He was a member of the Los Angeles City Council 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 represents a wide diversity of incomes and neighborhoods. At the time he was 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 member of the Trade, Commerce & Tourism Committee, and the Ad Hoc on Recovering Energy, Natural Resources & Economic Benefit from Waste for L.A. in the city of Los Angeles. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Prior to serving as councilman, LaBonge was Director of Community Relations at the Department of Water and Power, Special Assistant to Mayor Richard Riordan, and Chief Deputy to Council President John Ferraro. LaBonge is a lifelong advocate for Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation, which falls in his district.
A graduate of John Marshall High School, LaBonge received his bachelor's degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. He married graphic designer and illustrator Brigid Manning LaBonge in 1988. They reside in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles with their two children, Mary-Cate and Charles.
