Parking Commissioner Andy Licht Launches Bid for Board of Ed Seat

Lifelong Beverly Hills resident Andy Licht says he wants the city's school district curriculum to go from “good to great,” and that he is the right person to help achieve that goal.

Licht, who serves on the Traffic and Parking Commission, is one of competing for three seats in the Board of Education election Nov. 8.

“I am running because I believe my involvement with Beverly Hills, from childhood to adulthood, my business skills and my ideas can help move our district in the right direction,” Licht said at his campaign kickoff Sunday.

As the father of three children attending city schools, Licht said he is invested in the district and the community.

“My focus is on the children, the curriculum and civility,” he said. “How can we restore foreign language in sixth and seventh grades? Why don’t we have a debate team in middle school?” 

Licht said his priorities as a school board member would include:

• Ensuring that bond money is spent properly on district schools
• Creating a dialogue with the community and board members that is open, civil and encourages all points of view
• Refreshing the college counseling process to keep Beverly Hills High School competitive with other high performing schools
• Stopping the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from tunneling under BHHS as part of the

Licht pointed to his business background as a reason why voters should trust him with the task of improving the Beverly Hills Unified School District. 

“I have 30 years of experience as a film producer—negotiating contracts and managing budgets,” he said. “I hire and lead diverse teams of talented individuals.” 

Licht has a daughter and son who attend BHHS and another son at El Rodeo. Several times Licht joked that he is trying to follow his daughter Lucy’s footsteps. Lucy Licht is serving as the high school student representative on the school board for the 2011-12 academic year. 

Vice Mayor Willie Brien, who has endorsed Licht, introduced the candidate to the crowd of about 100 people.

“Andy is thoughtful, engaged and representative of the best of our city,” said Brien, who noted that he has known Licht for more than 45 years. He also pointed to Licht’s service to the city.

Licht has served on the El Rodeo Site Council, the Citizens Oversight Committee overseeing BHUSD bond spending and is a graduate of .

Councilman John Mirisch and Planning Commissioner Brian Rosenstein, both of whom have endorsed Licht, attended the kickoff. Licht has also been endorsed by Mayor Barry Brucker and the Beverly Hills Education Association, the city’s main teachers union, which is also supporting and .

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