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Nate Holden, former LA councilmember and state senator, dies

A man with medium dark skin tone and a white beard glances off into the distance.
Nate Holden served on the L.A. City Council for many years.
(
Gary Friedman
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)

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Former Los Angeles city councilmember Nate Holden has died at the age of 95.

A lifelong public servant, Holden represented South Los Angeles on the city council from 1987 to 2003. Before that, he served four years in the California State Senate.

"Nate Holden leaves behind a legacy of service and strength," said Mayor Karen Bass in a statement. "Throughout his life, he put the South Los Angeles community front and center. As an organizer, I learned from the way he served — always working to ensure vital services were delivered directly to the residents he represented."

Before taking public office, Holden spent more than a decade as assistant chief deputy to then-L.A. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

“Nate Holden was a legend here in Los Angeles," said L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who later sat on the City Council with Holden herself in the early 2000s. "He was a lion in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council."

Holden was born in Macon, Georgia. He is survived by two sons — former California Assemblymember Chris Holden and Reginald Holden.

Flags in Los Angeles are flying at half mast Thursday to honor the longtime politician.

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