“Tom was so much more than a councilperson. He was 24/7 working for L.A. with tireless energy,” wrote Gerry Hans, president of the community organization Friends of Griffith Park, to KCET. LaBonge first worked for Mayor Tom Bradley’s youth program in 1974. Two years later, he was hired by Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson and, four years later, he went on to serve Councilman John Ferraro. He ran for city council in 1993 but lost. Instead, he became an aide to Mayor Richard Riordan. In 2000, he was hired by the Department of Water and Power. Eventually, in 2001, he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council, where he served until 2015.