Sheila Irani, a former field deputy and director of special projects for Councilman Tom LaBonge, 4th District, is among a group of individuals who are vying to succeed her former boss.

Sheila Irani

Irani said she left the councilman’s office in July for family reasons, but now the native Angeleno is ready to give back to a city that has provided so much for her and her parents, who emigrated from Iran.

“It’s not just home — it’s life for me,” she said.

Irani is currently the chair of the CHAMPION Fund, which supports the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and she has run a small advertising agency, Pathways Strategic Communications, since 1995. She also produces a literary conference, Women and Words, every year that benefits foster care agencies in Los Angeles County.

The Lake Hollywood resident is running for office for the first time, aside from four terms as president of her neighborhood association. She also sits on the education and outreach committee for the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council.

Irani said she is running for the council seat for a “million reasons” — one of which being that she believes she possesses a unique set of skills that will translate well as a city leader. During her time in LaBonge’s office, she said her private sector background enabled her to work more quickly and efficiently.

The council candidate also has a background in transportation, as her advertising agency specializes in alternative modes of transit. Irani praised the Purple Line Extension and the Bus Rapid Transit plan, but said the city needs to make more progress on its bike master plan.

“The low-lying fruit has already been done,” she said, adding that city leaders must look at other ways to use streets more efficiently in order to reduce congestion and promote transportation alternatives. “We are definitely not building our way out of this thing.”

Irani also has an interest with homeless and runaway youth, given her experience with Women and Words. She said homeless youth live a “very invisible existence” in Los Angeles.

“They are near and dear to my heart,” Irani said, adding that the city does not have a lot of shelters for that demographic. “I want to promote their visibility, and I want to solve the problems. They are solvable. It’s going to take somebody with some focus.”

As a small business owner, she would like to see the city promote an environment in which small businesses can thrive. Too often, officials pursue blanket approaches to solutions when they should be getting a better understanding of the businesses they will impact, Irani said.

“There’s a lot of nuances that you need to integrate into your strategy,” she added.

Irani also hopes to increase the job market and improve education in Los Angeles. Although the city council does not have jurisdiction over the city’s public school district, officials can enter partnerships to improve school campuses, she said. Irani mentioned her work in creating a community park at Vine Street Elementary School.

“It’s a dialogue. …Too often … the various agencies don’t get into the same room with one another,” she said, adding that a council member’s job is to serve as a liaison between residents and city hall. “Really, we are a middle man. We will find a common ground. It may take a while.”

As for the Miracle Mile, Irani said that facilitating the progress of the Bus Rapid Transit and Purple Line Extension projects will likely be priority No. 1. Irani said the projects are likely to bring “smart development.”

“There’s a lot of good things happening [in the Miracle Mile] that are going to benefit the city,” she said.

While development is much needed, officials should also prioritize the protection of neighborhoods, the Lake Hollywood resident said. She said the charm of Los Angeles is its “quilt of neighborhoods.”

“I would hate to see a Hancock Park or Windsor Square or Larchmont Village or the Beachwood Canyon area railroaded by huge development and for it to lose its favor,” Irani said. “It’s all going to be about balance.”

Regarding the Millennium project, she said the development is “most definitely” near an active earthquake fault and is taller than any other building in Hollywood. Irani said it would be “wiser” to do some more homework before continuing to pursue construction.

“It’s poor PR,” she said, adding that she hopes the developers will figure out a good solution.

The former field deputy said she would be “deeply honored” to represent the district, as she loves meeting people, discussing concerns and working toward solutions.

“I think I’ve got the ideas. I’ve got the ability, and I’ve got the desire,” Irani said, adding that she would be willing to cut $50,000 from her council salary and put it toward her office’s discretionary spending account. “That’s an investment I’m willing to make into the district.”