Beverly Hills City Councilmember Lester Friedman is seeking another term in office. “I am excited to announce my candidacy for reelection to the Beverly Hills City Council in the election of June 2022,” Friedman told the Courier in an exclusive announcement.
First elected to the Council in 2017, Friedman served as Mayor from March of 2020 through April of 2021. His tenure coincided with a singular time for the city, the country and indeed, the world. Friedman described those unique challenges and opportunities to the Courier:
“Last year, during my term as Mayor, our city experienced unprecedented challenges–pandemic, civil unrest, and extraordinary financial impacts to our local economy. Working together, we were able to address these challenges and to put our city on a path to recovery. While we have made great progress, that work is not complete and it is for that reason, and after encouragement and support from many in our community, that I have made the decision to run for a second term.”
He also cited the importance of a continued strong recovery from the pandemic.
“During my first term, and certainly, as Mayor, the health and safety as well as the financial viability, of our community were of primary importance. While they remain so, I hope that with continued recovery, we can also devote our time and energy to other goals which are important to the future of the city. Our city is well positioned to prosper as we emerge from the pandemic, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to lead our community and work to make the city stronger as we prepare ourselves for the future.”
Friedman and his wife of 46 years Simone, a former Parks and Recreation chair, have lived in the city for nearly four decades. They are parents of four and grandparents of five. Recognized as a foremost expert in Workers’ Compensation law, Friedman maintains a practice in Beverly Hills.
In addition to his most recent service on the City Council, Friedman has served on the Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking Commission and the Beverly Hills Taxi Review Committee (as chairman), the Beverly Hills Blue Ribbon Committee on Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction and the Beverly Hills Firefighter’s Association Scholarship Committee. A UCLA graduate, Friedman also takes great pride in his role as Official Scorer for UCLA Men’s Basketball and the PAC-12 Conference.
