Joe Buscaino was a beat cop for the Los Angeles Police Department when he decided to run for LA City Council’s 15th District. He won that race, succeeding former Councilmember Janice Hahn — who had been elected to Congress (and now serves on the Board of Supervisors) — as the representative of San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Watts.

Then, he was reelected. And reelected again. Both times handily. Now, nearly 11 years later, the 48-year-old San Pedro native son — born and raised in the port town — leaves office with a long list of accomplishments, as well as having survived the challenges of working through the bureaucratic maze that is the city of Los Angeles. Councilmember-elect Tim McOsker, who will be sworn in on Saturday, Dec. 10, will succeed him.