Janice Hahn Says Goodbye To City Council And Vice Versa
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Congresswoman-elect Janice Hahn said goodbye to the City Council Friday and they did the same.
All 12 Council members lauded Hahn, thanked her for her long service and told stories about working with and alongside her.
Many said she showed lots of compassion and commitment, qualities sorely needed in the nation's capital.
Council President Eric Garcetti somewhat somberly noted that Hahn's leaving the City Council would mark the first time in 64 years a member of her family would not be holding elected office in the city of Los Angeles.
Her father, Kenneth Hahn, was elected to the city council in 1947. He served until 1953, when he was elected to the Board of Supervisors, where he served for 40 years. Hahn's uncle Gordon won the 8th District council seat in 1953, and served for 10 years. James Hahn, her brother, held all three citywide elected offices: mayor, city attorney and city controller.
"Ten years ago and 15 days ago you became a councilwoman," Garcetti said. "I can't think of anybody who was as well prepared, had as many professional experiences before getting here as you have, and the city of Los Angeles has really benefited from it."
Councilmen Bernard Parks and Tom LaBonge both said publicly that they love her.
Hahn, who spoke last, called her final day a "very bitter-sweet moment" in a difficult week. Her mother, Ramona Hahn, died Monday, the day before she was elected.
"When I look back on my life, I think it was the 10 years on the City Council that was really able to shape me and allow me to sort of develop my style of governing and my style of leadership," Hahn said.
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