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Re-Elect Lester Friedman - Beverly Hills City Council 2026

Secure Our Streets Our Homes Our City Finances

Trusted Experience ยท Leadership That Meets the Moment

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Lester Friedman

Meet Your Candidate

A Beverly Hills Story

Lester Friedman has been an active member of our community for over four decades. Whether as an AYSO or Little League coach, City Commissioner or member of the City Council, his leadership has made a difference.

When COVID-19 struck in 2020, Lester was Mayor. While others debated, he acted - coordinating with health officials, supporting local businesses through the crisis and ensuring vulnerable residents received essential services. During the civil unrest that same year, his relationships with public safety officials across the region helped secure the city. Crisis struck again when Lester was Mayor in 2025 as the Palisades Fire threatened the entire Westside. He led the coordination of city resources with Fire Chief Barton to tactically prepare the city if needed. His experience and knowledge saved time and prevented chaos.

Lester fought against Sacramento's development mandates that will change our community forever. "The new zoning laws imposed by the state on small cities like Beverly Hills are irrational and come with unintended consequences. They are the single greatest threat to our quality of life. We put our trust in the courts to find remedies."

But leadership isn't just about crisis management. It's about showing up every day, listening to residents, fighting state imposed development mandates, and making the difficult decisions that protect Beverly Hills for future generations.

Residence

Beverly Hills since 1982

Education

UCLA Undergraduate

Southwestern University School of Law

Served As

Mayor in 2020-2021 and 2024-2025

A Clear Vision for Beverly Hills

Priorities That Deliver Results

Not just promises. A proven track record of taking action on the issues that matter most to our community. Here's what I'm focused on.

Security on Our Streets and in Our Homes

Working with Chief Stainbrook, we initiated a 24/7 Real Time Watch center to monitor the network of closed-circuit cameras across the city. There is more to be done. We are integrating 3,000+ private security cameras with the Watch Center and deploying drone technology for rapid emergency response. We need to start using AI to analyze crime data and target crimes before they happen. And we need to use AI to create smart community-based patrol programs.

Result: During his second term as Mayor, crime fell by 20%

Economic Security

Beverly Hills holds one of the rarest designations in municipal finance: a AAA bond rating, which means lower borrowing costs and reflects the financial trust the city has earned. Under Lester's leadership, the city has built over $100M in reserves - more than 50% of the operating budget - while maintaining debt-free operations. City services have been delivered without increasing fees or compromising quality, and continued investment in infrastructure ensures Beverly Hills remains fiscally sound for generations to come.

Result: $100M+ in reserves, debt-free operations

Standing Against Hate

Lester brought the Combat Antisemitism Movement's 4th annual "Mayor's Summit Against Antisemitism" to Beverly Hills, hosting leaders from around the world to address rising hate. His urgency of action put police patrols at synagogues in a visible show of force, reassuring the community during a time of fear. A longtime member of Temple Emanuel, he and his wife, Simone, have been leaders in the Jewish community for decades, standing up against hate in all its forms and working to ensure Beverly Hills remains a place of inclusion and safety.

Result: Hosted international antisemitism summit, increased security at houses of worship

When It Mattered Most

Proven Leadership in Crisis

When our community faced unprecedented challenges, Lester didn't just respond - he led.

COVID-19 Response

As Mayor when the pandemic struck, Lester moved quickly to coordinate local relief efforts and keep Beverly Hills functioning. He established business support programs to help shops and restaurants survive shutdowns, coordinated vaccine distribution for residents, and ensured vulnerable community members received essential services. Throughout it all, he maintained city operations with zero municipal layoffs - protecting both residents and city employees.

Zero municipal layoffs

Protecting Our Community

During civil unrest, Lester worked around the clock coordinating with BHPD, LAPD, and regional law enforcement to protect residents and businesses - including the iconic shops along Rodeo Drive. He balanced firm security measures with support for peaceful expression, opening channels for community dialogue and ensuring Beverly Hills remained safe while respecting the right to protest.

24/7 emergency coordination

Fighting Sacramento's Development Mandates

Lester has challenged Sacramento's "one size fits all" housing mandates that threaten Beverly Hills' character. The Council is pursuing legal and legislative pathways to minimize impacts, because the consequences of non-compliance are severe: losing all local control over zoning and development.

Challenging state mandates

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