Candidate for
Board Member; Los Angeles Unified School District; District 3

Tamar Galatzan is a Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney with the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program, assigned to the Van Nuys LAPD Division. The innovative program focuses on reducing crime by identifying, prioritizing, and addressing criminal problems proactively. She has spent the past four years working on some of the city's most challenging issues: abating nuisance activity around schools, homelessness, gang activity, street racing, and illegal vending.

Tamar is a strong advocate for public education. Raised in Encino, Tamar graduated as salutatorian from Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa. In 1991, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science and was a Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her Juris Doctor from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1994 and was admitted to the California Bar in December 1994.

Before joining the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Tamar served as Western States Associate Counsel for the Anti-Defamation League. At ADL, Tamar was responsible for legal and civil rights issues, including employment discrimination complaints and First Amendment issues, in thirteen western states. She conducted programs for educators, attorneys, and law enforcement on Workplace Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and Religious Accommodation. Tamar also co-authored an ADL publication on religious issues in public schools and is the author of op-eds published in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, and Daily Journal.

Having also spent several years working as an aide in the California State Assembly, Tamar has extensive legislative experience. She served as a liaison between state government and community groups in the San Fernando Valley and assisted with development and passage of legislation pertaining to employment discrimination, education, health, and domestic violence.

Tamar is well-versed in the educational needs of Valley students and has seen first hand the negative results of those who do not graduate high school. She believes that increasing safety for students, teachers and staff, decentralizing decision-making, improving graduation rates, and preventing truancy should be top priorities of the L.A Unified School District.

Tamar is married to Brendan Huffman. They reside in Studio City and are the parents of two boys, aged four and two. An avid runner, Tamar has completed two Los Angeles Marathons. She is on the Board of the San Fernando Valley Jaycees, volunteers in her son's pre-school class, and is active in her community.