Steve Simonian first served on the La Habra City Council from 1998 until 2010 and served as Mayor for several terms.  He was again elected to the City Council in November 2020.

Steve began his career as a police officer for the City of Montebello on December 5, 1966. He went up the ranks and served as Chief of Police from 1987 to 1998.  From 1998 to 1990, he was hired as Assistant City Manager and Interim Police Chief for the City of Bell Gardens. From 2000 to 2006, Steve served as Chief of the Bureau of Investigations of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office under DA Steve Cooley.  He worked  as a public management consultant until again hired by Bell Gardens in 2008 to be their City Manager until his retirement in 2011.

Steve has been honored with: The State of California Police Officer of the Year Award, the Association of the LA Sheriffs 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2001 Leadership Award, the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Police Officers Association of LA County, an honorary life-time membership in the Shomrim Society, the California Peace Officers Association’s highest award - Law Enforcement Professional of the Year in 1994, and the 1988 California Narcotics Officer Association Region III Narcotic Officer of the Year. 

Other honors include the 1992 YMCA “Man of the Year” award, the 1995 YMCA Martin Luther King Human Dignity Award, and the Beverly Hospital’s Humanitarian Award, and several awards from the Boy Scouts of America’s including their highest award, the ‘Silver Beaver’.

Steve has served on the Board of Directors of many organizations including: The Boys and Girls Club of  La Habra (2020 President), the Inland Valley Humane Society, the Montebello Police Foundation, the Montebello/Commerce YMCA, the Friends of Montebello Unified School District and the Beverly Hospital, and the Rotary Club. 

Steve Simonian was raised in Montebello, attending Eastmont Elementary, Eastmont Junior High and Montebello High School. He graduated high school in 1963 and attended college at East Los Angeles and Rio Hondo College.

He received an Honorary Doctor’s Degree in Law from Seoul Christian University, in Seoul, Korea in 2004.  

Steve raised two children who attended La Habra public schools. Both of them have spouses who were also born and raised in La Habra!  Steve and Irene Tsukada Simonian were married in 2009 and treasure their strong family ties. They have five loving grandchildren, and share a deep commitment to organizations that serve the community and the needs of children.  They share a dedication to promote a healthy, sustainable environment and preserving open spaces.