LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass announced that she has selected Justin Ramirez to serve as Executive Director and Max Podemski as Deputy Director of the Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission and Robert Lewis, Raymond Meza, Melinda Murray, and Christina Sanchez as her Commissioner appointments. Mayor Bass’ appointments to these roles reaffirm her commitment to government reform as the appointees bring experience with ethics, good governance and community engagement to the Commission.
"After careful consideration, I am pleased to announce my appointees, who I believe will carry out their roles with a deep commitment to creating better local government for the people of Los Angeles," said Mayor Bass. "The Charter Reform Commission will be vital to achieving the government reform that Angelenos deserve."
Appointments by Mayor Bass:
Justin Ramirez, appointed by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Mayor Bass to serve as Executive Director, brings years of experience working in Long Beach local government. Most recently, he served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the Associate Director of Public Engagement for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Whittier College.
Max Podemski, appointed by Mayor Bass to serve as Deputy Director, is an urban planner with years of experience in development and implementation of City public policy and projects related to land use, climate, sustainability, infrastructure and transportation.
Robert Lewis, appointed by Mayor Bass to serve as a Commissioner, is an experienced leader in the philanthropic space, known for bridging across sectors to achieve shared outcomes in Los Angeles. With approximately three decades of professional experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, Mr. Lewis has worked to bring resources to under-resourced communities as a grantmaker and through innovative lending practices ensuring new economic opportunities are coming to historically disadvantaged areas within the city.
Raymond Meza, appointed by Mayor Bass to serve as a Commissioner, is Deputy Chief of Staff for SEIU Local 721 where he has strengthened and improved organizational processes and practices for hiring, onboarding and supporting union employees. Mr. Meza brings decades of experience engaging with the community and considering stakeholders’ input to deliver for union members and the public-at-large.
Melinda Murray, appointed by Mayor Bass to serve as a Commissioner, is a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, dedicating her career to protecting some of the most vulnerable victims in the region. Ms. Murray served on the LA City Ethics Commission from 2015 to 2022, where she led the development and implementation of the Ethics Commission’s revision of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Lobbying Ordinance and the Matching Funds Program.
Christina Sanchez, appointed by Mayor Bass to serve as Commissioner, is a leader with decades of experience in communicating complex public policy, engaging with multilingual audiences and effectively bridging the public and private sectors. She serves as Vice President of Public Affairs at AltaMed Health Services where she leads the organization’s strategic communications, media relations and has built strong relationships with L.A.'s business community. Ms. Sanchez is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Appointments by the City Council:
Martin Schlageter, appointed by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson as Commissioner, has spent his career delivering essential City services for Angelenos while working to build a greener, more sustainable future. Mr. Schlageter brings years of experience working in City departments and will lend his knowledge of City processes to the Commission’s efforts. He currently oversees strategic partnership engagement for Metropolitan Water District.
Mona Field, appointed by then Council President Paul Krekorian as Commissioner, is a respected academic and lifelong teacher, teaching English as a second language, sociology and political science. A public servant, Ms. Field was elected four times by the voters of the Los Angeles Community College District to serve as a member of the Governing Board of the nation’s largest community college district. A past President of the Board of the League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles, she is committed to engaging all Angelenos in local government and civic processes.
Ted Stein, appointed by then Council President Paul Krekorian as Commissioner, is a dedicated civic leader who has served on a number of City citizen commissions and blue ribbon commissions. He has worked for Mayors Villaraigosa, Hahn, Riordan and Bradley. Mr. Stein brings extensive firsthand experience from within City elected offices, managing departments and serving on commissions, including on the Harbor, Planning and Airport Commissions.
President Pro Tempore Bob Blumenfield will make an appointment to replace a previous commissioner who had resigned.
The Charter Reform Commission was established by Mayor Bass and the Los Angeles City Council in August 2024. The Commission is tasked with reviewing the City Charter and developing recommendations for amendments and revisions for consideration by the City Council and the Mayor. It is a civilian board that will be comprised of 13 commissioners:
Four appointed by the Mayor.
Two appointed by the Council President.
Two appointed by the Council President Pro Tempore.
Five appointed by the initial eight members through an application process.
All appointments are subject to confirmation by the City Council. The Commission will begin their work by reviewing applications to select the five other Commissioners.
The Commission will have the authority to review the entire Charter and also specifically consider changes recommended by the Council. Among the subjects suggested for review are improving the delivery of City services, revising the City's contracting process, revising the City's budgeting process, establishing a consistent procedure for filling vacancies in elected offices, defining the rules for censure and suspension of elected officers, and exploring an increase in the number of Council districts. The Commission’s recommendations will be submitted to the City Council in early 2026 for possible inclusion on the November 2026 ballot.