Steve Harrington, Public Works Chief for L.A., Dies at 64

Steve Harrington, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works and previously a leader in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, died Monday night at his home in the Mar Vista area.

He was 64, said Jackie David, a board spokeswoman, who added that Harrington apparently suffered a stroke.

Harrington began as an apprentice electrician in 1942, fought as a sailor in the Pacific during World War II and was elected president of the IBEW local in 1976, serving until 1987. During his tenure, one of the largest electrical training centers in the world was established in Los Angeles County.

His city service began in 1978, when he was named to the Los Angeles Planning Commission. He was named to the Board of Public Works in 1984 and became board president a year ago. At the time of his death, he was in charge of a 6,000-person department responsible for city maintenance.

Mayor Tom Bradley learned of Harrington’s death while attending conferences in Hawaii.

In a statement, Bradley commended Harrington’s commitment to better city services, ranging from homeless shelters to new Little League baseball fields.

“I will miss the expert counsel Steve Harrington has provided over the years,” the mayor said. “More importantly, I will miss his friendship and his indomitable will to improve the quality of life in this city.”

Deputy Mayor Ed Avila, former president of the Board of Public Works, called Harrington “one of the finest public servants I know.”

“He really cared about people and this city which he loved,” Avila said.

Survivors include his wife, Carol, four children and six grandchildren.