Jan Perry

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Jan C. Perry (born June 8, 1955) is an American politician from California. A Democrat, she served on the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 9th district, from 2001 to 2013. She was president pro tempore of the council from 2009 to 2011, and before that served as assistant president pro tempore from 2006 to 2009. She previously worked as chief of staff to Councilwoman Rita Walters.

During her time on the council, Perry focused on health, parks, and development in her district. She supported efforts to limit fast-food outlets to help curb obesity, funded public parks to encourage outdoor activity, and promoted incentives for grocery stores to open in the area.

After leaving the council, Perry became the head of the Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD). She was appointed interim general manager in July 2013 by Mayor Eric Garcetti and became the department’s permanent general manager in November 2013. She stepped down at the end of 2018.

In 2022, Perry ran for Congress in California’s 37th congressional district to succeed Karen Bass, but was defeated by Sydney Kamlager-Dove.

Jan Perry Wetlands: She led a project turning a 9-acre bus maintenance yard into a stormwater wetlands park in South Los Angeles. The park was renamed The Jan Perry Wetlands in her honor and opened in 2011. The project was funded by Proposition O and other grants, and includes wetlands, parks, and educational spaces.

Personal life: Perry is a convert to Judaism. She had an Orthodox conversion in the 1980s after studying with Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller at UCLA. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and is a graduate of the University of Southern California (BA) and its Master of Public Administration (MPA).