Laura N. Chick
Encyclopedia
Laura N. Chick is an American
politician
. She is a longtime California political figure who focused her public service career on fighting for greater transparency and accountability in government. Most recently she served as California's Inspector General overseeing the state's spending of $85 billion of Federal Recovery Act funding. Chick was appointed to the newly created position by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in April 2009. She is a member of the Democratic Party
.
On December 17, 2010 incoming Governor Jerry Brown
gave Chick notice, two weeks before taking office, that he was closing down her operations. The news elicited immediate headlines across the state. Typical of the reaction to Chick's firing was an LA Times editorial which stated, "Perhaps he (Jerry Brown) can't afford Chick's office, but he — and California — likewise cannot afford to lose the insistent, questioning and fresh approach that she brought."
Prior to her appointment as Inspector General she was the 17th Los Angeles
City Controller
. Before her election as City Controller, she served as a councilwoman from the city's Third District (Woodland Hills
, Tarzana
, Reseda
, West Hills
, Winnetka
and Canoga Park
), from 1993-2001. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from UCLA and a Master’s in Social Work from University of Southern California
.
Her experience includes managing a family-owned retail business. Laura first entered elected office in 1993 when she defeated a 16 year incumbent for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. Seven months after taking office her district was devastated by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Chick went into action working around the clock, an ever present figure in the toppled neighborhoods. Laura used the crisis as an opportunity to rebuild in a smarter and better way, creating what is now a thriving redevelopment zone with shops, cafes and a legitimate theater converted from an X-rated movie house.
In 2001 Chick was overwhelmingly elected City Controller, becoming the first woman to hold citywide office in Los Angeles. As Controller, she was the Chief Auditor and Chief Accountant of the City working to ensure its fiscal health. In her nearly eight years in this office, Chick released over 170 audits and reports exposing a wide range of problems throughout city government. As the taxpayers' watchdog she rooted out waste and fraud and championed innovation and new ideas to challenge the status quo.
In 2006, Los Angeles Magazine named Laura Chick one of the most influential people in the City. The Los Angeles Daily News
editorialized, “…as City Controller, she’s often been downtown’s lone champion of good government." A Los Angeles Business Journal
feature said, “Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick has emerged as a central voice in the ongoing debate over how the City handles its contracts.” In a May, 2004 feature article, Los Angeles Magazine states, “Where others couch and evade, she is Ms. Blunt.”
One of her last audits to be released as City Controller exposed a backlog of thousands of untested DNA rape kits at the Los Angeles Police Department. Chick's report brought a national spotlight to an intolerable situation. This resulted in City officials finally making the problem a priority. Her work won her the prestigious ProPublica Prize for Investigative Governance.
Shortly after President Obama signed the Federal Recovery Act, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger turned to Chick. He tapped her to be the first-in-the-nation Inspector General to oversee the economic stimulus dollars that California was receiving.
"Laura's impressive track record as a watchdog and public servant makes her uniquely qualified to ensure this funding is used as it was intended-to create jobs and help our state through this difficult economic time," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
The Sacramento Bee heralded Chick's arrival in the Capitol with the headline, "Misuse stimulus cash - you'll answer to her".
Chick energetically took up the state's challenge of overseeing the massive expenditure of American Recovery funds though her Office was given very little resources. With a handful of auditors borrowed from other state departments she scrutinized local agencies across the state. Chick released nearly 30 reports uncovering mis-spent stimulus funds totaling millions. Her relentless style elicited critics inside State Government as it had with insiders in Los Angeles City Hall.
Chick serves on the State Board of Directors as Member at Large for California Women Lead, a women's nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She is a longtime California political figure who focused her public service career on fighting for greater transparency and accountability in government. Most recently she served as California's Inspector General overseeing the state's spending of $85 billion of Federal Recovery Act funding. Chick was appointed to the newly created position by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in April 2009. She is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
On December 17, 2010 incoming Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
gave Chick notice, two weeks before taking office, that he was closing down her operations. The news elicited immediate headlines across the state. Typical of the reaction to Chick's firing was an LA Times editorial which stated, "Perhaps he (Jerry Brown) can't afford Chick's office, but he — and California — likewise cannot afford to lose the insistent, questioning and fresh approach that she brought."
Prior to her appointment as Inspector General she was the 17th Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
City Controller
Los Angeles City Controller
The Los Angeles City Controller is an official in the government of the city of Los Angeles, California. The City Controller is the auditor and chief accounting officer of the city. Along with the Mayor and the City Attorney, the City Controller is chosen by popular vote every four years.The...
. Before her election as City Controller, she served as a councilwoman from the city's Third District (Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
Woodland Hills is a district in the city of Los Angeles, California.Woodland Hills is located in the southwestern area of the San Fernando Valley, east of Calabasas and west of Tarzana, with Warner Center in its northern section...
, Tarzana
Tarzana, Los Angeles, California
Tarzana is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. The neighborhood is located on the site of a former ranch owned by author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who named it Tarzana after his jungle hero character Tarzan.-Geography:Tarzana, a district...
, Reseda
Reseda, Los Angeles, California
Reseda is a San Fernando Valley district in the city of Los Angeles, California.-History:The area now known as Reseda was originally inhabited by Native Americans of the Tongva tribe that lived close to the Los Angeles River....
, West Hills
West Hills, Los Angeles, California
West Hills is an affluent community and district in the western San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States.West Hills is bordered by Chatsworth and the Chatsworth Reservoir to the north, Canoga Park to the east, Woodland Hills to the south, Hidden Hills to the southwest,...
, Winnetka
Winnetka, Los Angeles, California
Winnetka is a district in the west-central San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles.Winnetka is located next to Canoga Park on the west, Woodland Hills on the south, Chatsworth to the north, and Reseda to the east...
and Canoga Park
Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California
Canoga Park is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States about 25 miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles....
), from 1993-2001. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from UCLA and a Master’s in Social Work from University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
Her experience includes managing a family-owned retail business. Laura first entered elected office in 1993 when she defeated a 16 year incumbent for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. Seven months after taking office her district was devastated by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Chick went into action working around the clock, an ever present figure in the toppled neighborhoods. Laura used the crisis as an opportunity to rebuild in a smarter and better way, creating what is now a thriving redevelopment zone with shops, cafes and a legitimate theater converted from an X-rated movie house.
In 2001 Chick was overwhelmingly elected City Controller, becoming the first woman to hold citywide office in Los Angeles. As Controller, she was the Chief Auditor and Chief Accountant of the City working to ensure its fiscal health. In her nearly eight years in this office, Chick released over 170 audits and reports exposing a wide range of problems throughout city government. As the taxpayers' watchdog she rooted out waste and fraud and championed innovation and new ideas to challenge the status quo.
In 2006, Los Angeles Magazine named Laura Chick one of the most influential people in the City. The Los Angeles Daily News
Los Angeles Daily News
The Los Angeles Daily News is the second-largest circulating daily newspaper of Los Angeles, California. It is the flagship of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, a branch of Colorado-based MediaNews Group....
editorialized, “…as City Controller, she’s often been downtown’s lone champion of good government." A Los Angeles Business Journal
Los Angeles Business Journal
The Los Angeles Business Journal, established c. 1979, is a weekly newspaper in Los Angeles, California, which covers general business news. According to the journal's website, it has over 12,000 online subscribers, and a weekly print circulation of 30,000...
feature said, “Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick has emerged as a central voice in the ongoing debate over how the City handles its contracts.” In a May, 2004 feature article, Los Angeles Magazine states, “Where others couch and evade, she is Ms. Blunt.”
One of her last audits to be released as City Controller exposed a backlog of thousands of untested DNA rape kits at the Los Angeles Police Department. Chick's report brought a national spotlight to an intolerable situation. This resulted in City officials finally making the problem a priority. Her work won her the prestigious ProPublica Prize for Investigative Governance.
Shortly after President Obama signed the Federal Recovery Act, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger turned to Chick. He tapped her to be the first-in-the-nation Inspector General to oversee the economic stimulus dollars that California was receiving.
"Laura's impressive track record as a watchdog and public servant makes her uniquely qualified to ensure this funding is used as it was intended-to create jobs and help our state through this difficult economic time," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
The Sacramento Bee heralded Chick's arrival in the Capitol with the headline, "Misuse stimulus cash - you'll answer to her".
Chick energetically took up the state's challenge of overseeing the massive expenditure of American Recovery funds though her Office was given very little resources. With a handful of auditors borrowed from other state departments she scrutinized local agencies across the state. Chick released nearly 30 reports uncovering mis-spent stimulus funds totaling millions. Her relentless style elicited critics inside State Government as it had with insiders in Los Angeles City Hall.
Chick serves on the State Board of Directors as Member at Large for California Women Lead, a women's nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.