Board Member

Steve Barkan is the president of Barkan Strategies, a political consulting firm. Described by the Los Angeles Times as a “savvy political veteran,” Barkan is a campaign and media strategist who has dedicated his career to progressive ballot measures, candidates, and media advocacy campaigns.

Recognized for his creative ad direction, design and writing, Barkan is also a general strategist with extensive experience in data analytics and polling. He’s been the primary strategic leader on hundreds of Congressional, State Legislative, state constitutional officer, ballot measure, mayoral and council campaigns. Barkan has guided numerous successful and groundbreaking campaigns to expand public investment in schools, community colleges, parks, and clean water. He’s particularly proud of his strategic and creative leadership in the passage of measures addressing the housing and homelessness crises in L.A., including Measures A, ULA and H.  

In addition to electoral work, Barkan guided major environmental and union advocacy projects, ranging from clean water and open space preservation to increasing the minimum wage.

 Born and raised in Los Angeles to a proud union family, Barkan studied under legendary public opinion academicians at University of California, Santa Barbara as an undergraduate before hitting the campaign trail for the next several decades. Barkan is co-director of the San Gabriel Mountains Composite Mountain Bike Team, and he lives in Altadena with his wife Clarymond, and son Rafael.