Mel Levine

Meldon Edises Levine (born June 7, 1943) is an American attorney and former Democratic Congressman from California. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993.

Early life

On June 7, 1943, Levine was born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1960.

Education

Levine was student body president (1963–64) and valedictorian at the University of California, Berkeley. After attending Princeton (MPA 1966) and Harvard (JD 1969) Universities, he was admitted to the California bar in 1970.

Career

In 1970, after Levine was admitted to the California bar, he set up a private law practice.

He was a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator John V. Tunney from 1971 to 1973. He served in the California State Assembly from 1977 to 1982. He served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993. He supported the 1991 Gulf War Authorization Act, which authorized the use of United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678.

In 1992, Levine ran for U.S. Senate; he lost in the Democratic primary, to Barbara Boxer, who went on to win the general election in November.

In August 2013 Levine was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to become a member of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. On September 11, 2013 Levine was confirmed to become a member of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners by the Los Angeles City Council. Levine is the President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.

Levine is a partner in law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

Personal

Levine is married to New Yorker journalist Connie Bruck. He has three children from a previous marriage: Adam, Jake and Cara. He lives in Pacific Palisades. In January 2018 Adam Levine, who is gay, “came out” as a political conservative.