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Los Angeles County, CA June 6, 2006 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Brian Center

Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 44; Democratic Party

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This information is provided by the candidate

"Brian Center is at the forefront of a groundbreaking movement to change the way we help families in need. Instead of accepting the status quo, he is helping spearhead efforts to transform government that should serve as a national model. He has a unique understanding of what works and has offered strong leadership to break cycles of failure we so often see in government. His work brings tremendous hope that we can transform not only families, but entire communities and greatly reduce the violence and hopelessness that we have come to accept as normal in our society." Dr. David Sanders, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Crime Prevention and Program Specialist Brian Center works for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. His focus is creating policy to increase the effectiveness of crime prevention efforts throughout the County. Brian is currently working on a plan to reduce homelessness and increase affordable housing; design and implement training for front line officers; and creating partnerships with the health care community and courts to divert severely mentally ill citizens from jail. Brian is also working to improve the foster care system and help develop efforts to keep at-risk youth on track.

Advisor to Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina While working with Supervisor Molina, Brian managed Los Angeles County and its 90,000 employees, $17 billion budget and 10 million residents. He worked with task forces to prevent crimes before they happen and keep the worst criminals off our streets. Brian also played an active role in a variety of County issues, including fashioning billion dollar budgets and working to improve the quality of life for millions of people.

Expert in children and family issues As an advocate for children and their families, Brian has developed efforts that serve as models for how to empower families. By bringing neighbors, schools, parents, and social workers together, he has helped families and children succeed, build community, improve school performance, and reduce crime

Experienced business lawyer, Juris Doctor from UCLA Brian received his Juris Doctor from UCLA in 1993 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kansas in political science in 1990. He spent over eight years litigating cases for a wide range of businesses and individuals. In his work as a lawyer, he managed complex and high stakes disputes, winning cases with the highest sense of ethics and integrity. As a business litigator, Brian gained a true understanding of the challenges facing businesses today.

Community Activist Brian was raised in Manhattan, Kansas. He now lives in South Pasadena with his wife, Vivian Center, a law clerk to a Federal District Court Judge. Together they have two daughters.

Brian has been active in a broad array of community activities over the past 14 years including serving as a board member on the South Pasadena Educational Foundation, volunteering as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court, acting as a neighborhood watch captain, and serving as a founding member of CalAware, an organization dedicated to improving access to government by the press and public.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 8, 2006 07:45
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