Candidate for
United States Representative; District 33

Wendy Greuel is running for Congress to build on Henry Waxman's 40 year legacy of public service. Like Congressman Waxman, Wendy will stand up to the powerful, protect consumers and our environment, and safeguard the needs of the next generation. Her vision for serving the 33rd Congressional District is based on securing what matters most to families - a robust economy, a healthy environment, quality education for our kids and a society in which everyone's rights are respected.

A working mom and lifelong Angeleno, Wendy attended LA public schools and graduated from UCLA. Wendy started her career in public service working for her mentor, Mayor Tom Bradley, where for ten years she worked on a wide range of public policy issues including child care, senior care, homelessness, housing, public health and education.

While in Mayor Bradley's office, Wendy was a leader in the creation of LA's BEST, a nationally recognized after school program that provides a safe and supervised environment for 28,000 children every day after school, and she helped found the city's first childcare center.

At a time when few in government were paying attention, Wendy helped lead the fight to combat HIV and AIDS, establishing the first city/county AIDS task force and ensuring that the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center remained open at a time when closure was threatened.

And while many of our veterans struggled with homelessness, Wendy walked the streets to meet them and assist them in securing housing. These experiences sparked a commitment to affordable housing that led Wendy to Washington D.C., where she served in President Clinton's administration as the Deputy Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness and later as the Southern California Regional Director at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. At HUD, Wendy helped secure over one billion dollars in federal aid and coordinated the department's response in the aftermath of the 1994 Earthquake.

In 1997, Wendy transitioned into the private sector, working for five years in the film industry as an executive at DreamWorks Studios. She understands the critical importance of the entertainment industry for the health of our economy. At Dreamworks, as a member of the California Film Commission, and in elected office, Wendy has led efforts to fight piracy, protect intellectual property rights and pass strong incentives to stem runaway production, keeping these quality jobs in Los Angeles, where they belong.

In 2002, Wendy was elected to the Los Angeles City Council and quickly developed an impressive record of accomplishment by creating jobs, preserving open space and reducing traffic congestion.

Wendy was the architect of historic business tax reform that returned nearly $100 million to local businesses, eliminating the business tax for over 60% of small businesses. She preserved nearly 1,200 acres of open space, more than any member of the City Council, and protected prominent mountain ridgelines from development.

As Chairwoman of the Transportation Committee, Wendy focused on delivery of basic city services and became known as the "Pothole Queen" for her relentless pursuit of street improvements. She banned road construction during rush hour and created anti-gridlock zones to unclog our major thoroughfares. Wendy advocated for millions of dollars from the federal government to build new carpool lanes and was an early supporter of Measure R, which is dramatically reshaping our transit future.

In 2009, Wendy was elected City Controller, becoming only the second woman in LA's history elected to citywide office. As Controller, she brought greater transparency to government and applied a laser focus to examining government finances, ensuring our taxpayer dollars were spent efficiently. Her audits identified potential savings of millions of taxpayer dollars and advanced important causes including working to close the LAPD backlog of untested rape kits and ensuring that women and minority-owned businesses are given fair access to contracting opportunities.

Both of these audits reflect Wendy's deep commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for women. In 2014, it is wrong that women still only earn 77 cents for every dollar, that the right to make their own healthcare decisions is regularly attacked and that women only make up 18% of membership in the House of Representatives. In Congress, Wendy will be a fierce advocate for women.

Throughout her career, Wendy has gained a reputation as a consensus builder, a passionate advocate and a tough fiscal watchdog, the same qualities she will bring to Washington D.C. We need a Congressmember who can deliver critical dollars for our communities from day one; someone who doesn't just talk but gets results; Wendy will be that leader. Wendy is the right choice for California's 33rd Congressional District.

Wendy and her husband Dean are the proud parents of Thomas, who attends public school.