Ron Galperin is sanguine about losing the primary for California state controller, though the termed out Los Angeles city controller will miss the job he had for nine years.
Successor Kenneth Mejia was sworn in Dec. 12.
Galperin hasn't decided what's next, but says he has many offers to choose from. He was non-committal about whether any of those offers include working in the administration of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who also took office Dec. 12.
"I am very excited about the future of Los Angeles, not just in spite of our challenges, but because of our challenges," Galperin said. "It's really been the most rewarding time of my life, to be involved in city government and to make a difference in government generally."
"I am just out of office less than a week, and it's the very end of the year, so my husband and I are taking our kids to Hawaii, and then I will figure it out," Galperin said.
He and his husband, Zachary Shapiro, have two kids, fraternal twins Maya and Eli.
Galperin has pivoted before, and after losing the race to be state controller in the first round of the election in June, when he finished fifth in the top-two primary, Galperin is prepared to reimagine his professional life again.
"I intend to be very much engaged in civic life in Los Angeles," Galperin said. "I really love this city and want to find a whole variety of ways that I can continue to make a difference. I have a lot of options that have been offered to me."
The 59-year-old added that he wants to take his time in terms of not just jumping into something, but in figuring out where he can best contribute.
His first career was as a journalist working for the Los Angeles Business Journal as a reporter and editor.
He later wrote two weekly columns for the Los Angeles Times. He then earned a law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and worked in private practice as a litigator and as a transactional attorney. He also holds a certification from the senior executives in state and local government program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
What led him to public service was a drive to "better understand local government and where our money was coming from and where it was going," Galperin said.
He ended up serving on two financial commissions for the city of Los Angeles, and then decided to run for controller.
"I had not been in elected office before, but wanted to bring my experience in government as a commissioner and then private industry to city government," he said.
Among accomplishments he is most proud of as controller is bringing the office into the modern age with technology. He created a dashboard that provides easy to find information on how the city spends money.
The office regularly audits other departments.
And in February, he
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"Housing and the crisis we have of homelessness is paramount right now," Galperin said. "It's not just in Los Angeles, but in other parts of the country. In many ways, it's an existential crisis we face in Los Angeles. Our new mayor has clearly stated and correctly that it's her first priority."
Bass
Another audit Galperin conducted looked at the data being gathered for the purpose of public safety with the idea of exploring how public safety needs are balanced against privacy rights, when police have license plate scanners and facial recognition technology.
"The issues of public safety and police are crucial issues for Los Angeles, as they are for any other city," Galperin said. "I am a strong believer that you have to have effective public safety, and effective spending, that will put people on a good track, so they are not caught up in the justice system. That is crucial in terms of creating a safe and equitable city."
Los Angeles' three pension funds — for fire, police, and civilian employees — are 100% funded.
"We are in better shape in Los Angeles than many other cities and counties, meaning we are fully funded," Galperin said.
The volatility of the stock market will continue to cause problems for pension funds if state and local government doesn't view it through a long-term lens versus a short-term lens, he said.
"There are challenges and there are going to be remain some," Galperin said. "Los Angeles is in better shape when it comes to pensions, and healthcare. Most cities have no money set aside and do pay-go, but Los Angeles does have money set aside for that. I am not suggesting we have all the money we need, but all three systems continue to be professionally managed and overseen."
The former litigator came into office with a background in real estate.
"I think everyone who runs for office brings a different set of experiences to bear," Galperin said. "I found it helpful having been in the private sector coming into government. My experience is that overwhelmingly the people serve in government and on the Los Angeles City Council are caring and want to make a difference, no matter what department they work in or what level they are at."
His business background had him focused, however, on what the return on investment was on government expenditures, he said.
"Government never has had, nor will have, endless resources to do what we have to do," Galperin said. "It's crucial that government be able to look itself in the mirror, and acknowledge what we do well, and what we do not do well."
With the rapid change in the world, government has to learn to be more nimble, he said.
