Mitch O'Farrell

Mitch O'Farrell is an American politician and member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 13th district. O'Farrell was elected on May 21, 2013 to succeed outgoing incumbent Eric Garcetti, the 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles.[1]

Mitch O'Farrell
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office July 1, 2013
Preceded by	Eric Garcetti
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Website	District 13

O'Farrell was raised in Moore, Oklahoma, a suburb south of Oklahoma City. He first moved to Los Angeles where he became a cruise ship dancer traveling the world and eventually ending up working as a dancer in a casino in the Bahamas. He eventually moved back to Los Angeles in the 1990s, settling in Glassell Park.

He became a community activist and started volunteering for his neighborhood. Eric Garcetti was running for City Council and he did some volunteer work for him. He was elected President of the Glassell Park Improvement Association and helped form the Neighborhood Council.

In 2002, he was hired by then-Councilmember Garcetti to work in his office. He stayed for ten years. He was a field deputy, then deputy director, then district director and then senior advisor.[2]

As of June 2020, O'Farrell claims to be the "1st Native American on L.A. City Council."[3][4] He is a citizen of the federally recognized Wyandotte Nation[5][6] and his 2013 campaign was officially endorsed by Chief Billy Friend.[7] He hung a dreamcatcher on his mic during a City Council hearing on defunding the Los Angeles Police Department in response to Black Lives Matter.[8]

O'Farrell is one of two currently serving, openly gay members of the Los Angeles City Council.[9]