Don Knabe

Knabe attended Graceland University and graduated with a degree in business administration. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, Knabe settled in Cerritos. The Knabes owned a small business, and Knabe entered politics in 1978 as one of several candidates for the GOP nomination to replace Del M. Clawson as Congressman from the 33rd District (Downey-Norwalk-Whittier). Knabe lost to La Mirada Mayor Wayne R. Grisham, but carried his home area. In 1980, he was elected to the Cerritos City Council on the basis of growth issues. Knabe took a job with Supervisor Deane Dana's office in 1982, soon advancing to Chief of Staff.

In 1987, Knabe considered running as a Republican for the state Senate in a special election. However, he backed down in favor of Grisham, whose Congressional seat had been redistricted and was now a state Assemblyman. Grisham lost the special election to Democratic Norwalk City Councilman Cecil Green by a larger-than expected margin, and Republicans immediately concluded that the younger, more energetic Knabe should have been the nominee. Knabe retired from the City Council in 1988 to run for the state Senate. After a hard-fought and expensive campaign, Green defeated Knabe by 51% to 49%.

In 1996, Deane Dana, the former Supervisor of the 4th District, announced that he would retire in December of that year, after serving 16 years in office.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-01-me-41865-story.html|title=Insider Heads the Pack in the Race to Succeed Dana|last=Rabin|first=Jeffrey L.|date=1 March 1996|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}} Don Knabe, who had served as Dana's chief deputy since 1982, ran to fill the vacated seat.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-12-mn-35115-story.html|title=Dana's Heir Apparent Joins Titans of Fund Raising|last=Rabin|first=Jeffrey L.|date=12 February 1996|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}} During the campaign, he raised more than $2.6 million, with Dana's campaign committee spending more than $152,000 on Knabe's behalf.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-13-me-53566-story.html|title=Funds Flow for Knabe, Trickle In for Swanson|last=Rabin|first=Jeffrey L.|date=13 October 1996|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=11 September 2013}} The majority of the campaign contributions came from special interest groups.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-07-me-62088-story.html|title=Knabe Takes Measured Approach to Job That Awaits Him|last=Rabin|first=Jeffrey L.|author2=Josh Meyer|date=7 November 1996|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=11 September 2013}} In the non-partisan primary, he finished first with 40% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect/96031215/rr1215pc.html-ssi|title=Official Election Returns - March 26, 1996 Primary Election|date=15 August 1996|work=Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=10 September 2013}} In the general election, he defeated former Rolling Hills Mayor Gordana Swanson, who had given Dana a tough race in 1992.

A moderate Republican, Knabe instituted a safe-haven law or baby hatch in 2002, where mothers can leave their baby at a fire station, lifeguard headquarters, or hospital within 72 hours of their birth. The program was instituted after several publicized cases of child abandonment and infanticide. The program was quickly adopted statewide. As of August 31, 2011, 87 babies, in Los Angeles County alone, have been safely surrendered.

Knabe was the Chairman for the 2010 session. He was reelected in the June 3, 2008 election.

Cerritos Community Regional Park was retitled to its current name on November 30, 2016, to honor Knabe. It was recommended by former mayor and supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.{{cite web|url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2016/09/06/cerritos-regional-park-will-be-renamed-after-outgoing-supervisor-don-knabe/|title=Cerritos Regional Park will be renamed after outgoing Supervisor Don Knabe|access-date=7 May 2023|date=6 September 2016}}

Knabe's son, Matt Knabe, is a partner at a major Los Angeles lobbying firm, Englander, Knabe & Allen and is a registered County lobbyist.{{cite web|url=http://www.englanderpr.com/team/247-matt-knabe.html|title=Matt Knabe|work=Englander Knabe & Allen|accessdate=10 September 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929213502/http://www.englanderpr.com/team/247-matt-knabe.html|archivedate=29 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kcet.org/shows/socal_connected/content/investigation/family-ties-may-mean-favors-for-la-county-supervisors-son.html|title=Family Ties May Mean Favors for L.A. County Supervisor's Son|last=Gonzales|first=Vince|date=28 November 2012|work=Socal Connected|publisher=KCET|accessdate=10 September 2013}} Despite the family ties, Knabe routinely voted on board matters involving clients that his son and the latter's firm represented (including the award of government contracts), instead of recusing himself.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-dec-21-la-ed-1221-ethics-20121221-story.html|title=The ethical choice? Pak should step down|date=12 December 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}} Because of the father-son relationship, local media, in particular the Los Angeles Times, regularly raised ethical concerns over perceived or real conflicts of interest.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jan-04-la-oe-newton-knabe-20110104-story.html|title=Family ties|last=Newton|first=Jim|date=4 January 2011|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-05-ed-knabe5-story.html|title=Break up the family|date=5 February 2007|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jan-13-la-ed-conflict-20110113-story.html|title=Conflict of interest in Los Angeles government|date=13 January 2011|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}}

Board matters on which Knabe did not recuse himself included contract awards that circumvented standard government procurement processes and other actions that had a financial impact on Matt Knabe's firm:

• March 2005: A $7.4 million contract award with Global 360 BGS Inc. that Knabe voted to approve.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-feb-13-me-knabe13-story.html|title=Pact Profits Family of Supervisor|last=Leonard|first=Jack|date=13 February 2006|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}} The said company paid $72,000 to Matt Knabe's firm. Later that year, J.D. Knabe & Associates, the firm owned by Knabe's wife, Julie, arranged an event for Global 360.
• June 2006: Knabe voted to approve the expansion of a controversial air park in Agua Dulce, California. The firm paid Matt Knabe's firm $32,800.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-28-me-knabe28-story.html|title=Knabe Again Votes for a Client of Lobbyist Son|last=Levey|first=Noam N.|date=28 June 2006|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}}
• June 2006: Knabe voted to approve a permit for Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI), a landfill operator in Sunshine Canyon. BFI had paid Matt Knabe's firm more than $83,000.
• February 2011: Knabe voted to award a $1.5 million contract to TRC Solutions, a client of Matt Knabe's firm.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/sop/cms1_156377.pdf|title=Statement Of Proceedings|date=8 February 2011|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}}
• December 2011, May 2012: Knabe voted twice to award American Golf Corporation lease extensions to run the County's golf courses.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/sop/cms1_171994.pdf|title=Statement Of Proceedings|date=13 December 2011|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/sop/cms1_179333.pdf|title=Statement Of Proceedings|date=29 May 2012|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}} American Golf Corporation is a client of Matt Knabe's lobbying firm.{{cite web|url=http://bos.lacounty.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=euUBquGffwE%3D&tabid=114|title=Lobbying Firms and Their Clients|date=13 July 2013|work=Executive Office, Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}} From July 2012 through January 2013, AGC paid Matt Knabe's firm a total of $67,500.{{cite web|url=http://bos.lacounty.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=nqg5KdE7eGA%3D&tabid=114|title=Lobbyist Employers and Their Payments to Firms|date=13 June 2013|work=Executive Office, Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}} The company also sponsors the Knabe Cup, an annual golf tournament for high schoolers held by Knabe.{{cite web|url=http://knabe.com/2013/04/04/local-high-schools-to-compete-in-eleventh-annual-knabe-cup/#.Ui_MKMakpa8|title=Local High Schools to Compete in 16th Annual 'Knabe Cup'|date=4 April 2013|work=Don Knabe|publisher=Fourth District|accessdate=11 September 2013}}
• March 2012: Knabe voted to award a $1.75 million no-bid contract award with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, a client of Matt Knabe's lobbying firm.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/66779.pdf|title=Contract with Enterprise Fleet Management to Provide Leased Vehicles with a Full Maintenance Service Program|date=6 March 2012|work=Community Development Commission|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=10 September 2013}} Following a SoCal Connected broadcast on the nature of the contract award, Supervisor Antonovich held a motion to investigate the contract award.{{cite news|url=http://www.kcet.org/shows/socal_connected/content/investigation/update-another-suspicious-deal-in-knabe-family-ties-to-la-county.html|title=Update: Another Suspicious Deal in Knabe Family Ties to L.A. County|date=5 December 2012|work=SoCal Connected|publisher=KCET|accessdate=11 September 2013}} In January 2013, the Department of the Auditor-Controller published its findings to a limited investigation regarding the Enterprise Rent-a-Car no-bid contract award, concluding that the solicitation had been conducted improperly.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/73430.pdf |title=Review of Community Development Commission's Fleet Services Solicitation|date=18 January 2013|work=Department of Auditor-Controller|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=10 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/county-contracting-reforms.html|title=L.A. County agency's contract probe leads to reforms, discipline|date=23 January 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=10 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kcet.org/shows/socal_connected/content/investigation/update-county-employees-violated-policies-faked-documents-in-knabe-inquiry.html|title=Update: County Employees Violated Policies, Faked Documents In Knabe Inquiry|last=Gonzales|first=Vince|date=22 January 2013|work=SoCal Connected|accessdate=11 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910220251/http://www.kcet.org/shows/socal_connected/content/investigation/update-county-employees-violated-policies-faked-documents-in-knabe-inquiry.html|archive-date=10 September 2015|url-status=dead}} From July 2012 to January 2013, Enterprise Rent-a-Car paid Matt Knabe's firm $97,500.
• July 2012: Knabe voted to award a $22,305,549 contract with Maximus Inc., a client of Matt Knabe's firm.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/sop/cms1_181388.pdf|title=Statement Of Proceedings|date=17 July 2012|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}} From July 2012 to January 2013, Maximus reported paying Matt Knabe's firm a total of $48,000.
• January 2013: On a motion initiated by Knabe, Knabe voted to waive the 15% gross receipts fee (typically applied for use of County facilities), for Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association (a client of Matt Knabe's firm), which sponsors United States Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Championships, for the company's use of the Manhattan Beach Pier.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/sop/cms1_189726.pdf|title=Statement Of Proceedings|date=15 January 2013|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/73769.pdf|title=MOTION BY SUPERVISOR DON KNABE|date=15 January 2013|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}} From July 2012 to January 2013, the said company had paid Matt Knabe's firm a total of $45,000.

Knabe was criticized for his use of taxpayer-funded discretionary funds (each supervisor is allocated a $3.4 million spending account), including the employment of an armed driver earning an annual salary of {{US$|90,000}}.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/county-supervisors-criticized-for-use-of-chauffeurs-.html|title=County supervisors criticized for use of chauffeurs|last=Therolf |first=Garrett|date=22 August 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=10 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-mar-10-la-me-discretion11-2010mar11-story.html|title=L.A. County supervisors spend millions on pet projects|last=Therolf|first=Garrett|date=10 March 2010|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 September 2013}}

Knabe is married to Julie Knabe née Gillbreath. Julie operates J.D. Knabe & Associates, a customer relations firm.{{cite web|url=http://knabe.com/meet-don/|title=Meet Don|work=Supervisor Don Knabe|accessdate=11 September 2013}} The Knabes have two sons, Curt and Matt, both graduates of Pepperdine University.{{cite web|url=http://file.lacounty.gov/lac/cms1_112697.pdf|title=SUPERVISOR DON KNABE|work=Board of Supervisors|publisher=County of Los Angeles|accessdate=11 September 2013}} Knabe's son Matt is a partner at a major Los Angeles lobbying firm, Englander, Knabe & Allen. Knabe is a member of New Life Community Church in Artesia, California.

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080118070712/http://www.knabe.com/meetknabe.html Knabe bio]
• [http://www.knabe.com/ Knabe official website]

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{{s-aft|after=Michael D. Antonovich (Mayor Pro Tem)}}

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Category:Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Category:1943 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Cerritos, California

Category:Reformed Church in America members

Category:Graceland University alumni

Category:California Republicans