Beverly Hills City Council Campaign Season Opens With Weekend Kickoffs

The Beverly Hills City Council race came into sharper focus over the weekend as four candidates, Lester Friedman, Sharona Nazarian, Rebecca Pynoos and Andy Licht, held campaign kickoff events that drew strong attendance and offered an early measure of enthusiasm in the 2026 contest.

While each event had its own tone, all four served as opening statements in what is Sharona Nazarian speaks to supporters during her Beverly Hills City Council campaign kickoff.

shaping up to be a closely watched race centered on public safety, neighborhood protection, accessibility, economic strength and the future direction of Beverly Hills.

Mayor Sharona Nazarian opened her reelection campaign with the largest gathering of the group, drawing more than 650 supporters to a kickoff event at a Beverly Hills residence. The turnout gave an early show of strength to the incumbent, whose campaign is leaning heavily on visibility, civic familiarity and a message built around communication, accountability and results.

Nazarian, the first Iranian American woman to serve as mayor of Beverly Hills, told supporters she wants to continue serving as an accessible and effective voice for the community.

“I am honored and so proud to serve this amazing community. I’m living the American dream. My promise is simple: I will continue to listen, to communicate, to be your voice, and to lead with integrity, transparency, dedication, and most of all, get things done for you.”

She said her focus remains on public safety, economic vitality, responsible Lester Friedman speaks before supporters at his Beverly Hills City Council campaign launch.

development, support for small businesses and preserving Beverly Hills’ character for families, seniors and future generations.

“Looking ahead, my focus is clear. We must continue prioritizing public safety, economic vitality, and the preservation of Beverly Hills’ unique character. We will work to protect our neighborhoods, advocate for responsible development, support small businesses, and ensure our city remains clean, welcoming, and vibrant for families, seniors, and future generations.”

The evening featured remarks and introductions from Beverly Hills Commissioner Sandy Pressman, Nazarian’s youngest son Jonah Nazarian and Commissioner JR Dzubak, reinforcing both her family ties and her support among familiar figures in city life.

Rebecca Pynoos launched her campaign before about 200 attendees in a backyard setting that reflected both neighborhood warmth and institutional support. Guests gathered over sandwiches and ice cream as supporters described her as a candidate with deep local roots, policy command and a thoughtful vision for the city.

The crowd included current and former commissioners, former mayors, business and civic figures, and members of several longtime Beverly Hills families. Andy Licht speaks to supporters during his Beverly Hills City Council campaign kickoff.

Among those in attendance were Planning Commissioner Terri Kaplan, Architectural Commissioner Evan Meyer, Barbara Lazaroff of Spago, Susie Gersh of the Gersh Agency, Virginia Maas and Joe Green. Also present were supporters tied to the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills Democratic Club and Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, both of which had recently endorsed Pynoos, along with State Senate candidate Brian Goldsmith.

Pynoos emerged from the event as a candidate whose supporters see her as both highly capable and personally grounded in the community. Her family’s ties to Los Angeles and Beverly Hills stretch back generations, and attendees pointed to her long record of service, her familiarity with both the Flats and the Southwest and her command of issues such as Metro expansion, land use and Builder’s Remedy projects.

That combination of personal connection and policy fluency appeared to be central to her early campaign identity, with supporters casting her as a candidate prepared to handle both the city’s day-to-day concerns and its longer-term planning challenges.

Andy Licht also drew more than 200 supporters to his campaign kickoff, where he framed his candidacy around lifelong ties to Beverly Hills, personal accessibility and a promise to remain directly accountable to residents. Supporters gather at Rebecca Pynoos’ Beverly Hills City Council campaign kickoff as she addresses the crowd.

His crowd included neighbors, lifelong friends, business and community leaders, former mayors, commissioners and family members.

Licht presented himself as someone shaped by Beverly Hills at every stage of life, from childhood to parenthood, and argued that his campaign is rooted in service to a city he knows firsthand.

“This city shaped my life, from Hawthorne to Beverly Hills High, to raising my own children here. That’s why I’m running, because I love this city, I know this city, and I’ve served this city.”

He told supporters that if elected, they would have a City Council member who is reachable, responsive and personally invested in getting things done.

“If elected, you’ll have something that matters, a friend on the City Council. Someone accessible, accountable, and ready to continue to listen to you to get things done.”

Licht also emphasized that voters would continue to have direct access to him, making openness and availability a central part of his campaign message.

Lester Friedman, who is seeking what he described as a third and final term on the City Council, used his kickoff to highlight experience, voter engagement and the value of direct conversation with the community. His event centered on face-to-face interaction, with Friedman thanking attendees for their time and for the questions they brought to the campaign.

“I truly enjoyed all the conversations and the important questions you asked. Connecting with the community is the best part of campaigning, and I look forward to spending more time with you over the next few weeks.”

Friedman’s message was grounded in continuity and experience, with the campaign making the case that he brings institutional depth and practical knowledge to the office as he seeks another term. His kickoff hosts reflected an established support base that included community, family and civic figures.

Taken together, the four events offered an early look at a race that is beginning with real energy and distinct contrasts in style. Nazarian projected incumbent strength and broad visibility. Pynoos leaned into depth, planning knowledge and civic credibility. Licht emphasized personal connection and accessibility. Friedman made experience and direct engagement the centerpiece of his case to voters.

With the campaign season now underway in earnest, Beverly Hills voters are getting their first clear look at not only who is running, but how each candidate intends to make the case for leadership in one of the city’s most important elections.