Russell Stuart Announces Run for Beverly Hills City Council

Stuart is making the case that his record on the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education shows he can lead during a period of change. In the last year alone, BHUSD approved Dr. Alex Cherniss as superintendent, named Loan Sriruksa the first female principal of Beverly Hills High School in 50 years and the first woman of color to hold the post, appointed Kim D’Aloisio as principal of El Rodeo Elementary School and Dr. Steven Suttle as principal of Horace Mann Elementary School, brought in filmmaker Kyle Newman to lead the broadcast production program at BHHS, approved a new athletic leadership team that included Steve Lawson, hired four-time CIF champion Jeff Bailey as head football coach and director of strength and conditioning, and saw Beverly Vista Middle School named a 2026 California Distinguished School.

The academic results have also strengthened Stuart’s case.

Beverly Hills High School was recently ranked No. 7 among California public high schools for outperforming expectations in University of California admissions, according to a San Francisco Chronicle analysis published this month. Beverly Hills High’s Academic Decathlon team also won first place in Division III at the California state competition in March 2025, and four BHHS seniors were named 2025 National Merit Scholarship finalists.

On athletics, BHUSD signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Nike and BSN SPORTS beginning with the 2025-26 school year, extending the district’s branding and competitive push across multiple sports. The district then followed that move by reshaping athletic leadership and bringing in Bailey, whose appointment BHUSD described as a transformational moment for Beverly Hills High School athletics.

School safety is another part of Stuart’s record and another pillar of his campaign. BHUSD’s Command Center monitors more than 1,500 live camera feeds across district campuses and works with law enforcement to respond quickly to safety concerns. For a candidate whose private-sector background includes security and emergency management, that is not a side issue. It is central to the argument he is making about readiness to lead as Beverly Hills faces a new era of public safety concerns tied to the coming arrival of rail transit and broader concerns about crime, disorder and protecting families.

“I am running for City Council because I believe Beverly Hills is at a very important moment, and this is a time for serious leadership. I understand why some people would ask why I would make this move while I still have time left on the school board, and it is a fair question. The answer is straightforward. I stepped up to serve Beverly Hills before, and I am stepping up again now.”

That is the heart of Stuart’s campaign message. He is not presenting this race as a break from public service, but as a continuation of it. In his statement, Stuart said he never expected to consider leaving the school board at a time when district progress has become so visible. But he said the trajectory changed after the life-altering accident he suffered at the city’s holiday lighting ceremony on Nov. 14, 2024, and after current City Councilmember and four-time Mayor John Mirisch was no longer in a position to continue serving. He argues those two developments changed the equation, especially with the Metro D Line extension set to open at Wilshire/La Cienega on May 8, just weeks before the election. Metro has announced May 8, 2026 as the opening date for the first phase of the D Line extension.

“John Mirisch has been a voice of reason, a thought leader and one of the most principled public servants Beverly Hills has had in modern times. I believe the court’s ruling was inconsistent with the letter and intent of the law, which in my opinion was never meant to be applied retroactively. John should have been allowed to run again. When it became clear that he would not be on the ballot, it had a real impact on my decision to enter this race, because I believe Beverly Hills still needs that kind of thoughtful, disciplined leadership.”

Stuart’s larger point is that Beverly Hills is about to face major decisions all at once. The city is preparing for the Metro opening after years of public concern over how the extension could affect safety and neighborhood life. At the same time, voters are confronting a council race without Mirisch on the ballot. Stuart is stepping into that moment and making a straightforward argument: Beverly Hills cannot afford a leadership gap at a time like this.

“Serving on the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I care deeply about our schools, our students, and our families, and I am proud of the progress we have made. During my time on the board, Beverly Hills High School was named No. 7 in California for exceeding expectations in UC admissions. We have also continued pushing forward academically, strengthened support for athletics, and expanded opportunities for students across the district.”

That record gives Stuart more than a campaign talking point. It gives him a tangible case for higher office.

He can point to leadership turnover that strengthened the district, academic gains that attracted statewide attention, high-profile hires that broadened student opportunity, athletic upgrades that changed the tone around school sports, and a security infrastructure built around the reality that parents expect schools to be both ambitious and safe. Beverly Vista’s new California Distinguished School honor only adds to that argument.

Stuart is now asking voters to view that school board record as preparation for City Hall. He is framing himself as a candidate of order, discipline and follow-through, someone who understands budgets, leadership, public safety and the need to protect what makes Beverly Hills exceptional without pretending the city can stand still. In a race that will almost certainly turn on trust, seriousness and competence, that is the case he is putting before voters.

“This is not about walking away from service. It is about continuing that service where I believe it is needed most right now. Beverly Hills needs leadership that can protect what makes this city exceptional while also preparing it for the future. I am proud of my record on the school board, and I am ready to bring that same commitment, discipline, and vision to City Hall.”