José Huizar was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in November 2005 following his service as both President and Member of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District (2001-2005). 

As the representative for Council District 14, Councilman Huizar serves the communities of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Eagle Rock, Hermon, and portions of Highland Park, Glassell Park, Mt. Washington, and Downtown Los Angeles. Councilman Huizar’s priorities include strengthening public education and youth programs, enhancing public safety, and facilitating the creation and funding of more affordable housing in the City of Los Angeles.

As President of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Councilman Huizar earned a reputation as an aggressive policymaker who tackled difficult issues to get results for students and families. During his tenure with the District, Councilman Huizar oversaw plans to build over 160 new schools within eight years, constituting the largest school construction program in the nation’s history. 

In his final year as LAUSD Board President, Councilman Huizar led the successful effort to reform the high school curriculum to ensure that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, will complete the A-G courses required for admission to one of California’s public universities.

Councilmember Huizar previously served as a Deputy City Attorney in the Real Estate and Environmental Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. He has also served as an associate with several private law firms. 

In 2004, Councilmember Huizar was selected to serve as a Trustee of Princeton University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including profiles by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 25 figures in the Los Angeles Area that “stand out for their potential to shape lives” and by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the “100 most influential Hispanics” in the United States.

José earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He received a Master’s degree in Public Affairs and Urban Planning from Princeton University and a Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law. 

José was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. He currently resides in Boyle Heights with his wife Richelle Rios and their two young daughters, Emilia and Isabella.