It looks like the end of an era in West Hollywood.
The city’s second-longest servicng council member, Abbe Land, announced she will not seek reelection to the board next spring.
Land is executive director and CEO of theTrevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention among LGBT young people. “I’ve had to travel more than before,” she told WEHOville. “I have had to miss things here and there.”
But, she said, ““I love this city, and I’m incredibly proud of the job that we’ve been done.”
Land has been a councilmember for 18 years. Only Councilmember John Heilman, who was elected to the Council 30 years ago when the city was first incorporated, has served longer.
Land’s retirement is part of a wholsesale turnover in West Hollywood. Four of the five council seats are expected to be open next year.
Land has lived in West Hollywood since 1979. She was first elected to the Council in 1986 to fill a vacancy left when Mayor Valerie Terrigno resigned after being convicted on federal charges of embezzling money from a non-profit organization. Land’s victory over Gene LaPietra, the gay owner of Circus Disco, meant an end to the brief gay majority on the Council, which had existed since the city’s incorporation in 1984.
“Before winning a seat on the City Council, Land served for one year on the West Hollywood Planning Commission. She left the Council in 1997 and returned in 2003, beating incumbent Councilmember Steve Martin. In 2006, Land ran for the 42nd District state Assembly seat, losing to Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Feuer. Land has served as the city’s mayor, a largely symbolic role, five times.”