Paul K. Tanaka was elected to the Gardena City Council in March 1999, and re-elected in March 2003, capturing more votes than any other council candidate in each of these elections. He was also selected by his Council colleagues to serve as Mayor Pro Tem from March 2003 to April 2004. Now in his second term of office, he continues to be a most effective Councilmember, showing strong leadership by supporting business promotion, expansion, and retention for all commercial areas of the City, with his current focus on developing and bringing financial support to the Rosecrans corridor area. With Councilman Tanaka as the Chair of the City’s Finance Committee from 2001 to present, the City has moved from a $5.2 million deficit in 1999 to more than a $2 million surplus in operating funds today.

Councilman Tanaka has fought crime and violence for over 24 years as a Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Sergeaqnt, Lieutenant, Captain, Commander, and Chief with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. As Chief of Administrative Services, he is responsible for the Department’s $1.7 billion budget and over 15,000 personnel. In addition, Councilman Tanaka is very active in the community, serving as Chief Financial Officer for the Go For Broke Foundation, a WWII Veterans Organization, and for the East West Players theater organization. He is also a board member of the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law and the Los Angeles Korean American Sheriff’s Advisory (LAKASA). He holds an accounting degree from Loyola Marymount University, is a Certified Public Accountant, and has 16 years of experience working with a Gardena accounting firm. Councilman Tanaka attended Gardena Elementary, Peary Middle School, and Gardena High School and is proud to have made Gardena his home for over 37 years. His family is here; his friends are here. He is working hard to make his community a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.