Sam Kbushyan - LA Council District 2
BACKGROUND & PERSPECTIVE
1. Experience: Please explain your past work on addressing corruption and advancing a more representative government.
Answer: As a zero-generation Armenian-American, a government that represents everyone is of utmost importance to me. I think that’s one of the reasons that I was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to her Advisory Transition Team. I have an unwavering commitment to public affairs, civic participation, and social entrepreneurship.
Similarly, it’s with the same principles that I serve as a Commissioner for the California State Respiratory Care Board, where I advocate for public service, transparency, and representation. I was first appointed in 2017 and reappointed in 2022 for another term.
2. Priorities: Councilmembers have many issues on their plate, and limited political capital. List your top three policy priorities for addressing corruption or advancing government reform that you intend to lead on?
Answer: Zero tolerance for corruption
For far too long, the Los Angeles City Council has included career politicians who make decisions in corrupt backroom deals. It is time to elect a new generation of ethical leaders with the best interests of all Angelenos – especially the most vulnerable. But that is not enough. To truly change the culture at City Hall, we must make structural changes to how our government works.
I support creating a new fair process for redistricting and increasing the size of the City Council. Right now, each Council member represents over 250,000 residents. Increasing the number of the Council Districts would give everyone more representation – especially underrepresented communities like renters and essential workers, and it would increase the responsiveness of every Council member.
We must also design an equitable redistricting process that prioritizes keeping communities of interest intact and is devoid of political pressures.
Remove politics from decisions about new buildings. The building process in our city breeds corruption. Too much power is concentrated in the hands of Council members, and the system incentivizes developers to pay lawyers and lobbyists to influence those politicians. We need right-size zoning throughout the city and to re-configure the general and community planning processes so they’re more accessible and straightforward.
Strengthen the ban on real estate developer campaign contributions. Real estate developers have historically spent a lot of money trying to sway elections in LA. While the Council recently banned developers with projects before the city from making campaign donations, there are too many loopholes. No developers should be able to influence city elections. Subcontractors of those developers should not be able to make campaign donations, and developers shouldn’t be able to fundraise for candidates.
Ban campaign donations from non-individuals. Corporations should not be able to give campaigns money, period. It’s time to update and strengthen the municipal lobbying ordinance to make it stricter about who qualifies as a lobbyist. We must also require lobbyists to identify themselves before speaking at City Hall and neighborhood council meetings.
I support tightening rules about when council members must recuse themselves. Members should not be able to vote on matters they have a personal stake in or when they have received a plurality of campaign donations from individuals or organizations that have a case pending before the City Council. Council rules must also be reformed so that a recusal does not count as a ‘no’ vote.
3. Fundraising: City candidates are prohibited from accepting direct contributions from city lobbyists, restricted developers, and certain contractors/contract applicants. Beyond the restrictions covered by city law, are there any industries or interest groups from which you are declining contributions? Any additional efforts you are making to run a “clean money” campaign?
Answer: I have not accepted any contributions from developers, lobbyists, and special interest groups of any kind. My campaign is entirely grassroots.
OPEN POLICY QUESTIONS
4. Council Size: What is your perspective on potentially expanding the membership of the LA City Council? What Council size will you advocate for? (If you do not have a specific number in mind, you are welcome to provide a range. You are also welcome to suggest ideas other than single member Council districts, like multi-member districts or having a combination of district & regional representation on the Council)
Answer: I support creating a new fair process for redistricting and increasing the size of the City Council.
Right now, each Council member represents over 250,000 residents. Increasing the number of the Council Districts would give everyone more representation – especially underrepresented communities like renters and essential workers, and it would increase the responsiveness of every Council member.
We must also design an equitable redistricting process that prioritizes keeping communities of interest intact and is devoid of political pressures.
5. Public Financing: Five years ago the City of LA expanded its public matching funds program. City Council will soon receive a report on a number of options for overhauling our public financing system. What is your vision for the future of public financing of elections in the City of LA? (Please specify if you would like to build upon the current program, move in a different direction with democracy vouchers, or utilize one of the hybrid approaches detailed in the motion to achieve full public financing).
Answer: I’m all for the Council to move toward full public financing. Until then, I support strict Ethics rules and regulations.
6. Council Rules & Voting: Council Rules permit a member to be counted as present, even while off the council floor. In fact, so long as the audio of the meeting is running, a member may meet privately with lobbyists in rooms behind council chambers during a meeting. Unless a member is at their desk and presses a button, they are automatically registered as an affirmative vote on items being considered. What are your thoughts on these Council Rules? What do you think is the right approach?
Answer: Councilmembers must be present on the council floor for their vote to count.
“YES / NO / DEPENDS” POLICY QUESTIONS
(If you would like to provide additional context you are welcome to provide a max of 1 sentence w/ more info on your answer)
7. Charter Commission Powers: The City Council is currently considering the potential creation of a charter commission to undertake the first comprehensive review of our charter in nearly a quarter century. The proposal recently floated at committee would not grant any authority to this commission, and it would merely be advisory. Some cities, like Portland, give their charter review commission the power, if necessary, to place a measure on the ballot if it secures the support of 15 out of 20 commissioners. In the 90s, Council was forced to negotiate with the unified charter commission in good faith because the elected commission retained the power to put a measure on the ballot. Would you support giving the charter commission the power to place a measure on the ballot, if necessary, so long as it receives the support of 75% of the commission?
• Yes/No/Depends:
• Additional context:
Yes
8. 2024 Charter Ethics Reform: The City Council has had varying levels of discussions about enhancing the independence and authority of the City Ethics Commission. It is currently unclear if council will be undertaking the work necessary to refine those proposals and place them on the November 2024 ballot, or if these proposals will be sent to the previously mentioned charter commission for further consideration and placement on the 2026 ballot.
Do you believe these Charter Ethics Reforms should be on the November 2024 Ballot?
• Yes/No/Depends:
• Additional context:
Yes
9. Ballot Qualification: LA City Council candidates are required to secure at least 500 valid in-district signatures to appear on the ballot, significantly more than required by most other jurisdictions.
Would you support cutting this threshold in half to 250 valid in-district signatures?
• Yes/No/Depends:
• Additional context:
No
10. Remote Comment: When LA City Council resumed in-person committee meetings last year, they ended remote public comment at committees.
Will you advocate for the restoration of remote public comment at committees?
• Yes/No/Depends:
• Additional context:
Yes