LOS ANGELES–Western regional chairman of the Armenian National Committee Steven Dadaian serves a unique role for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As part of Villaraigosa’s 81-person transition team tasked with recruiting his commissioners and staff members from all walks of life–Dadaian–along with 11 active State Bar members–are vowing to shake up business-as-usual in City Hall.
The transition-team attorneys–some practicing law and others serving on leadership roles in different organizations–have close access to those in the African-American–gay–Asian-American–Latino–Jewish–and other communities.
The lawyers also serve in a wide range of legal practices and leadership roles including business development–the environment–employment–transportation–minority affairs and poverty issues–all subjects Villaraigosa focused on during his campaign.
"We want to pick these people strategically and be smart about it," Stern said. "What Antonio was looking for when he reached out to these community leaders was a cross-section of Los Angeles with a depth and breadth of life experiences and expertise.
Dadaian–who works as a lawyer for Cal-Trans–can tap into a significant pool of transportation experts–an area that has been at the top of Villaraigosa’a announced priority list.
Dadaian said that he expects Villaraigosa to appoint a transportation expert to his staff and that he has been searching for a qualified person for such a post.
"I’ve also shared my thoughts with him in the area of transportation," Dadaian said. "He’s very motivated on the issue. But right now–I’m mostly trying to find candidates. He’s vetting them. He’s making the selections.
"I’m just trying to ID the right people."