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Since joining the City Council race, I have thought
a lot about my parents. My father, Virgil, was an
editor of a medical magazine, and my mother, Mary,
was a nurse. They had 3 children, and in 1969, tired
of the status quo, my father ran for City Council in
Willingboro, New Jersey. Through our parents, my
sister Mimi, my brother, Virgil and I were
instilled with the importance of community service
and participation. I
now realize it was truly the beginning of my
understanding how important responsibility and
service are. How community service is a rewarding,
essential, and clearly inspiring part of being a
citizen.
My sister, Mimi O’Keefe
was the first of us to move to Los Angeles. She
quickly got involved with community activities. She
volunteered regularly and became the leader of our
local Neighborhood Watch.
She worked tirelessly to reinstate the Senior Lead
Officer program. Thanks to Mimi, and
now my work
with Neighborhood Council Valley Village and the
Valley Village Homeowners Association, I have gotten
to form meaningful relationships with law
enforcement personnel. Some, in fact, are close
friends. I have been fortunate enough to have first
hand perspective openly shared on the public safety
issues in our community, and the changes affecting
our whole city.
Status Quo can be very
motivating. I find myself wondering if I am
currently in a similar mindset to the one my father
experienced exactly 40 years ago. There are serious
problems facing our district and our city. I feel
drawn to action. We must step up and take
responsibility. We need to make our voices heard and
our opinions count.
I
have a first hand knowledge of the interests and
concerns of the people of CD2 because I live here. I
have lived here for nearly two decades, and I love
my community. I take pride in my city, and I take
being part of a civic minded community very
seriously. It is the core of who I am.
I am eager to serve and
work towards implementing workable plans to solve
our city’s problems.
I pledge to step up, show up, speak up
and work for you! This is how I was raised. This is
how I live my life.
Pete
Press
on Pete's Dad: (click on any of the links below
to view a pdf file of the article)
Postcard
Flyer |
