L. David Patterson: A Proven Leader Committed to Hawthorne

David is a proud single father who has raised his daughter right here in Hawthorne. For over 20 years, he has been deeply involved in the community, volunteering his time and expertise to various non-profits and organizations such as the Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce, the Hawthorne Economic Development Council, and the Hawthorne Teen Center. He has played a key role in organizing community events like Hawthorne’s homebuyer workshop, the annual Community Clean-Up Day, Theater in the Park, and the Youth Basketball Academy in partnership with the Hawthorne Police Department.

Over Two Decades of Experience in Real Estate, Finance, and Business Consulting

With over 25 years of experience in Real Estate, Finance, and Business Consulting, David has helped countless families and small businesses achieve their financial and business goals. He holds 10 professional licenses in the financial services industry, including:

 - Series 7, 6, 63, 66, and 26 securities licenses

- Life & Health Licenses

- Property & Casualty Licenses

- Real Estate Broker’s License

 David’s educational background is equally impressive:

 - Associate’s Degree in English from El Camino Community College

- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from USC

- Master’s Degree in Organizational Development

- PhD in Business Psychology

As an Investment Advisor, David has worked with hundreds of families. As a Real Estate Broker, he has overseen more than $150 million in commercial transactions. In his role as a Business Consultant, he led the expansion of a multi-channel retail organization as its Vice President of Operations.

 A Decade of Public Service in Hawthorne

David began his public service in 2013 when he was elected as Hawthorne’s first African-American City Treasurer. Re-elected in 2018 with over 70% of the vote, he served in that role until 2020. During his tenure, he revolutionized the city’s financial management, increasing annual investment returns from $30,000 to over $500,000—a 400% increase. His renegotiation of banking fees saved the city tens of thousands of dollars each year.

In November 2020, David was elected to the Hawthorne City Council with over 11,000 votes—the highest for any council candidate in the city’s history. In only his second year on the council, he was elected by his peers to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

 Delivering on Promises as Councilmember

As a Councilmember, David has consistently delivered on his promises to the community. He brought Hawthorne its first Dog Park, introduced the Hawthorne 311 app to streamline communication between residents and City Hall, and reorganized the city's finance department, implementing new budgeting processes to enhance financial accountability and transparency.

David has also championed homeownership, creating financial literacy workshops and establishing Hawthorne’s first-time homebuyer program. He has worked to pass ordinances encouraging new housing developments and pursued affordable housing projects for seniors. Additionally, David’s efforts have brought electric vehicle chargers, youth programs, free tax preparation & legal services, and a digital community newsletter to the city.

As Chair of the Financial Oversight Committee, David has collaborated closely with the City Council and staff to transform how Hawthorne handles its finances, leading to a record surplus in the city’s reserves and cash balance.