Meet Andrew Kole, Candidate For Beverly Hills City Council

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Andrew Kole, 76, is vying to be elected to the Beverly Hills City Council.

In the June 2 election, voters will choose from a list of 11 candidates running for three council seats. Incumbents Lester Friedman and Sharona R. Nazarian are seeking reelection. The seat currently held by Councilman John Mirisch is open, as Mirisch has reached his term limit.

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Among those running is Kole.

Learn more about Kole's goals for Beverly Hills:

What is your educational background?

Graduated from University of Houston in 1972. The rest of my education is from a very interesting and diverse life I've lived one the last 50 years.

What is your professional background?

My eclectic career began with investing in, and selling L.A. Sports Magazine. Next, Warner Brothers as the director of special promotions. Followed by creating The Movie Section, a film advertising company.

Then, back to NYC and KMI, a hard money mortgage company.

Aspen was next where I created and hosted a daily TV talk show. Wrote and sold my first screenplay, moved back to LA in 2012 where I continue to write, and a partner in "Pickleball Is Great," putting on over 140 tournament in 2025.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

What are the top three issues facing Beverly Hills right now?

I'm going to approach this a bit differently. Instead of choosing three issues off the laundry list of issues all the other candidates like to talk about ... I'm saying the Top Three Issues are the THREE SEATS that are going to be filled in this election.

There is no doubt int my mind Sharona N. is going to fill one of those seats.

The other two seats are up for grabs. Rebecca P., Ariel R., Jonathan M., and Roger T. are all great candidates who would bring NEW BLOOD, NEW IDEAS, and an open door policy for the residents who just might like to get involved, but feel left out and at times disregarded.

I believe NEW BLOOD would produce some REAL Energy...with a SCOOP of Creativity...

and a dash of BRUTAL Honesty is what Beverly Hills really needs.

Re-electing the same people is not working. If you look at the current council, I could make an argument the players are mostly interchangeable.

Not meant as an insult — but an observation.

It time for NEW BLOOD and NEW IDEAS.

How should Beverly Hills approach state housing mandates while addressing concerns about density, neighborhood character, and infrastructure?

Find some leverage and take back control as much as BH can. This mess is because of the current "players" including council and staff could not make a deal with Sacramento. It's easy to blame the state, but the truth is BH failed when it came to providing an acceptable plan and now are stuck with the builders remedy program. Which is why the city needs to find some "leverage" that will stand up to any lawsuits filed.

What opportunities and challenges do you see with the Metro D Line extension, and how should the city respond?

I want to look at creating an Arts & Entertainment District by the new subway stop to give the public a reason to go there, while selling the naming rights to generate more passive income. The opportunity to add a "Faneuil Hall Marketplace" like the one in Boston, or a small theater for new playwrights and possible "kids" theater over the weekends. How about a Beverly Hills version of New York's Birdland Jazz & Theatre, or any number of fun activities that woulds draw a crowd. While the subway was and still is a horrible idea form my POV... I will work hard to make it a destination and not just another stop along the way.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

I don't think of myself as better or worse. I do think of myself as a different choice. My electric background which combines creativity business experience... plus my ability to do math and work the numbers makes me a different kind of candidate. Not better or worse, simply different.