Garcetti picks a longtime advisor to serve as L.A.'s top budget official
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed his former legal advisor Wednesday to serve as the next city administrative officer, choosing an aide who has worked for him on and off since 2001.
Rich Llewellyn, 61, has served as an aide to both Garcetti and his father, former Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti, at various times over the last 25 years. He had already been working as city administrative officer on an interim basis.
The city administrative officer, or CAO, is considered one of the most powerful appointed positions at City Hall, overseeing labor negotiations and city spending. The City Council will have 45 days to confirm or reject Garcetti's pick.
In an interview, Garcetti praised Llewellyn as "the right person with the right experience" — and someone who is "unafraid to tell you the unvarnished truth."