Nick Schultz took over this week as the new mayor of Burbank. As Konstantine Anthony completed his mayoral term Monday, the City Council unanimously elected Schultz to the position during the annual reorganization meeting.
The Council also unanimously elected Councilwoman Nikki Perez to serve as vice mayor.
“It is with great honor and deep humility that I accept the trust placed in me by my esteemed colleagues on the City Council,” said Schultz. “This responsibility is not one I take lightly. My commitment is to collaborative leadership, engaging with our dedicated city staff, and connecting with the heart of our city — the community. together, we stand on the cusp of a new era for Burbank, one marked by shared prosperity, innovative progress, and a steadfast dedication to the well-being of every resident.”
Born in La Mesa and raised in Oregon, Schultz was brought up by a single mother alongside his loving grandparents. He told the Leader that his passion for public service stems from his roots.
“A lot of people who helped me along the way have instilled in me compassion and a drive for service. I will never forget my roots,” Schultz said. “I see a lot of suffering, struggling to make ends meet. Those people are exactly why I decided to run for Council in the first place.”
Schultz was the first person in his working-class family to graduate from college. He graduated from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon earning a bachelor’s degree with majors in both history and political science. He then enrolled at the University of Oregon School of Law where he earned a juris doctorate degree.
Schultz has spent his entire professional career in public service. He currently serves as a deputy attorney general with the special prosecutions section of the attorney general’s office with the California Department of Justice.
In this role, Schultz investigates and prosecutes criminal cases primarily related to public corruption, officer-involved shootings, human trafficking, mortgage fraud, tax evasion and other forms of financial fraud.
Elected to the Council in 2020, Schultz proudly promotes initiatives to support economic equity, address the lack of sufficient affordable housing, and the protection of the environment.
He also represents the city of Burbank as a board member of the Arroyo Verdugo Communities Subregion Joint Powers Committee, San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, Cal Cities’ Los Angeles County Division, and more.
In his inaugural speech as mayor, Schultz celebrated the city’s victories — building back after the pandemic and balancing the budget — and laid out bold plans for Burbank’s future, with an emphasis on creating a more equitable economy.
“Too many people continue to be left behind. Over the last three years, I’ve heard countless stories about residents who are living paycheck to paycheck. I’ve been that person and I know many of you have too,” said Schultz. “The rising costs of rental housing are displacing longtime residents from our community. The dream of homeownership has never been further beyond reach for so many working people in Burbank. Wages remain largely stagnant and are outpaced by the very high cost of living.”
Schultz told the Leader that many people who experience economic hardship go unnoticed, and that a significant motivator for his tenure as mayor is shining a light on those issues and seeking solutions.
“We have to work diligently to build a more equitable and inclusive economy. That needs to be our number one goal,” said Schultz, adding that the Council must maintain its balanced budget, which was achieved during Schultz’s time on the body.
Schultz added that Burbank should leverage its position as “media capital of the world” while also propping up mom-and-pop businesses and micro-enterprises.
“This is not the time to rest on our laurels. Now is the time to be innovative, to be exciting, to do things that other communities around California have not yet done. Now is the time to be bold. Because if you are not bold, you’re stagnant, and if you’re stagnant you die. That’s not an economy that we deserve,” Schultz said Monday. “In terms of job development and creation, we need to prioritize jobs that sustain our community; jobs that provide a fair and livable wage that come with benefits.”
Schultz also highlighted the city’s ambitious housing inventory goals, discussed expanding tenant protections, endorsed funding homelessness services, and advocated for environmental stewardship.
The Monday meeting was also time for the community to acknowledge Councilman Konstantine Anthony as he stepped down as mayor, a position he held over the last year.
“You’ve always been collaborative; you’ve had an open heart. Your empathy is exemplary. … and that is the signature characteristic of your mayorship that I so deeply admire and so appreciate. Mayor Anthony, thank you on behalf of the community for your service,” Schultz said.
Schultz and his wife, Allie, reside in the Rancho neighborhood of Burbank and together they have two children, Ella and Aiden.
First published in the December 23 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
