Council Member Linda Briskman - Brief Biography

The Honorable Linda J. Briskman was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in March, 2001. She served as Mayor in 2005. Prior to being elected as a councilmember, she was a City commissioner for 11 years.

Mrs. Briskman is immediate past Chair of the Westside Cities Council of Governments (COG). The COG is a joint powers authority of five cities including Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica, West Hollywood and the western portions of the city and county of Los Angeles. These cities have partnered to forge consensus on policies and programs of regional significance with transportation enhancements and improving the plight of the homeless as their top priorities. In addition, Councilmember Briskman has led the City of Beverly Hills in its Legislative Advocacy and Government Affairs efforts both in Sacramento and Washington, DC for the past four years.

Mrs. Briskman served as a member of the Beverly Hills Planning Commission Board of Zoning Adjustments and Planning Agency from 1996 to 2001 and as chairperson in 1998. She served as a member of the Traffic and Parking Commission from 1992 to 1996 and as chairperson in 1996; and served as a member of the Solicitations Advisory Commission from 1990 to 1992 and as co-chairperson of the City's Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

Briskman is an experienced business executive who retired after a 30-year professional career in the apparel industry. She has been an active leader in many business, educational, civic, cultural and philanthropic organizations and groups. Briskman served as president of The Maple Counseling Center in 1999 and 2000; and as president and chairperson of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation. Along with these outstanding organizations, the Briskman family is especially proud to have been among the founding donors of the Crisis Response Team of TMCC and this year they received the TMCC Community Spirit award. In 2006, former Mayor Briskman was honored in Sacramento by Assemblyman Paul Koretz as "Woman of the Year" for the 42nd Assembly District.

Councilmember Briskman and her husband, Gary, have resided in Beverly Hills for 30 years and have two children who attended El Rodeo School and Beverly Hills High School. Daughter Brandi, class of 1990, lives in Beverly Hills and owns a vintage clothing and accessories boutique. Daughter Ashley class of 2001, lives in Newport Beach, is a graduate of Pitzer College and a fourth year law student at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa.