The new deputy is Scott Svonkin, who represents the 5th District on the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees and served as deputy from 2000 to 2002 to former WeHo Councilmember Paul Koretz.
Svonkin replaces Michael Haibach, who has served as Prang’s deputy since 2009. Haibach will assume a new role at City Hall in the Public Information Office on July 7. According to an internal memo from City Manager Paul Arevalo, Haibach will help implement a number of new branding and community engagement efforts included in the 2014-15 budget. Before taking the job as Prang’s deputy, Haibach was a marketing consultant .
Svonkin has deep political connections. Koretz, his former boss, is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing its 5th District, and represented the 42nd district in the State Assembly from 2000 to 2006. Svonkin’s most recent position had been as senior advisor to L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who retired in January before the end of his term.
In West Hollywood, a City Council seat is not a fulltime position. Each of the five Council members has a deputy who conducts his or her day-to-day city business.
Deputy? why do they need a Deputy? Mayberry had a Deputy Sheriff. His name was Barney Fife. You mean to tell me that the City Council Members continue to make bad decisions AND they have a Deputy to help do so? Naturally the former Deputy is moving to yet another “life-long” position in WEHO. I propose that all these “management” level jobs at the City be required to submit a daily journal about what they do all day long. What time they get in, how long is their lunch and what time they leave. We the tax-payers deserve to know… Read more »