David Gershwin Consulting

With more than 20 years of experience on political campaigns, as a senior staff member to elected officials at the state and local levels, and as an experienced advocate for dozens of clients, David Gershwin has been instrumental in ensuring the passage of key legislation, ballot measures, and initiatives. David has also helped clients secure major government contracts in highly competitive and politically-charged environments.

David has a unique ability to translate complex policy issues into language that can be understood by target audiences - an essential skill to achieve larger legislative objectives. David Gershwin Consulting will work with you to help key stakeholders know your issue inside and out, enabling you to have a pathway for success.

And when you need to engage a local community or key constituency, we'll deliver a ground game on behalf of your project or cause that doesn't just get you heard - it will get you a victory.

Your first impression with the media isn't just a conversation with a reporter - it's a dialogue with thousands or even millions of people. You've got to make sure your message is authentic, clear, and compelling. We'll help you prepare for interviews, create effective press releases, pitch stories, and work with you to develop hard-hitting, impactful opinion page pieces that put you on the map with your target audiences.

And just as the media landscape is always changing, your external communications tactics should be changing as well. While social media isn't a replacement for other forms of communication, used strategically, it can help you reach target audiences in a precise fashion. Whether it's helping you develop a Twitter campaign to establish thought leadership, or working with you to generate a platform for you to showcase unique perspectives or projects, we'll help you create the best pathway forward to achieve your short- and long-term goals.

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David Gershwin is a public affairs and strategic communications executive with a career spanning over three decades. David specializes in providing advocacy and communications blueprints for a wide range of clients, including: leading Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, transportation agencies, business organizations, law firms, banking executives, corporate real estate firms, healthcare executives, retail industry leadership, universities, social service agencies, advocacy organizations, and elected officials.

As Chief of Staff to Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti (who also served as Mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2022, and recently served as U.S. Ambassador to India), David was the architect for the Council President’s key policy and political initiatives and oversaw the office's legislative, communications, and planning and economic development teams.

Prior to working with Garcetti, David was Director of Communications for the Los Angeles City Council's prior Council President, Alex Padilla, now serving as California's senior U.S. Senator. David was also a Legislative Manager for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, where he created the business organization's first-ever Legislative Day at L.A. City Hall.

David has been a featured commentator on Fox Business Network and KTTV-TV, and has been interviewed by KNX-AM and KFWB-AM in Los Angeles. David has also been quoted to provide unique perspectives in The Spectator, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the Los Angeles Downtown News, and the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles.

David is a Lecturer at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, where he teaches Management Communication in its Masters of Engineering program, and was also a Lecturer at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in Spring 2022, teaching Communications Development for Leaders to full-time M.B.A. students. David has also been a guest lecturer at USC's Annenberg School of Communications, at USC's School of Policy, Planning, and Development, and at the University of LaVerne.

David was also named by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal to its list, The Valley 200 - The Most Influential Leaders In The Valley Area in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

David serves on the Board of Directors of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association, the San Fernando Valley's leading business organization, and chairs its Government Affairs Committee. A proud graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, David enjoys sports, photography, music, and hiking in local mountains.