Garcetti Names Top Fundraiser to Staff

Written by City News Service

Mayor Eric Garcetti on Tuesday named a top campaign supporter to serve as his deputy chief of staff of operations.

Rick Jacobs, a well-connected Democratic political fundraiser, co-ran the political action committee "Lots of People Who Support Eric Garcetti" that made independent expenditures on behalf of Garcetti's mayoral campaign.

Jacobs will give "strategic counsel" to the mayor and handle "communications, external affairs, scheduling, protocol and strategic partnerships" for his office.

He started the job today and will be paid $177,499.41 a year, plus benefits.

"Rick brings a fresh, outsider's perspective to City Hall," Garcetti said.

"His depth of corporate, nonprofit and political experience will help us make city government work better, and I'm proud to have him on our team," he said.

Jacobs founded the Courage Campaign, an advocacy group that pushes for a variety progressive issues including same-sex marriage rights, and is the founder of RDJ Strategic Advisors. He also served as the California chair for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential run. He started the banking and investment firm Newstar in 1991 with former Senate Majority Leader and Ronald Reagan's chief of staff Howard Baker and has served as vice president for the Occidental Petroleum Corp.

Jacobs will take a leave from his position at the Courage Campaign, while remaining on the group's board, to work in Garcetti's office.

"I'm honored to join Mayor Garcetti's office and work with his team to improve city services and help create jobs in Los Angeles," Jacobs said.