Konstantine Anthony

Konstantine Anthony (born 1981) is an American politician and former actor, serving as the mayor of Burbank, California, since 2022.[3] A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, he has been a member of the Burbank City Council since 2020,[4] and previously served as the city's vice mayor from 2021 to 2022.[5][6]

Konstantine Anthony
Anthony during the 2023 WGA strike
Mayor of Burbank, California
Assumed office
December 20, 2022
Preceded byJess Talamantes
Vice Mayor of Burbank, California
In office
December 23, 2021 – December 20, 2022
Preceded bySharon Springer
Succeeded byNick Schultz
Member of the Burbank City Council
Assumed office
December 2020
Personal details
Born1981 (age 41–42)[1]
Castro Valley, California, U.S.[2]
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Socialists of America
Spouse
Margo Rowder
​
(m. 2023)​
Children1
Residence(s)Burbank, California
EducationSan Francisco State University[2]

In 2020, Anthony was elected to the Burbank City Council.[7] In March 2023, Anthony announced his campaign for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,[8] challenging Republican incumbent Kathryn Barger.[9][10]

Political career

Mayor of Burbank (2022–present)

During the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike,[11] Anthony came out in favor of the WGA and appeared multiple times on their picket lines, alongside other elected officials.[12] Konstantine has been a SAG-AFTRA member since 2006 and a member of SEIU 2015 since 2019. On September 9, 2023, Anthony was spanked at the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats' Drag Queen Bingo fundraiser.[13]

Controversy

In September 2023, a video surfaced showing Anthony participating in a fundraising event where he bent over for a symbolic spanking by a drag queen. The incident occurred at the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats' Drag Queen Bingo fundraiser and garnered significant backlash and attention, sparking heated debates online.[14]

Political positions

Anthony is a proponent of a policeless state, advocating for the abolition of police as well as the abolition of prisons. He identifies himself as a futurist, abolitionist, and a Marxist, stating that he believes in the restructuring of societal systems and ideologies.[15]

Organizations

Outside of elected office, Anthony is involved with a number of social justice organizations. He has been part of the Burbank Advisory Council on Disabilities since 2018, and is a member of the Domestic Violence Task Force. Since 2019, Anthony has been on the Executive Board of the Burbank PFLAG. He previously served on the Burbank Transportation Commission from 2017 to 2020.[16] He is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, having been endorsed by the group in his run for Burbank City Council.[17]

Endorsements

In the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, Anthony endorsed 20-year-old activist Alex Gruenenfelder.[18] He co-endorsed Maebe A. Girl and California State Assemblywoman Laura Friedman for the seat in 2024.[19][20] In California's 2024 United States Senate election, Anthony endorsed fellow Burbank resident and U.S. representative Adam Schiff.[21]

Personal life

Anthony has been diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder, which he states has inspired his advocacy for disability rights.[22]

References
  1. Anthony, Konstantine [@konstantineinca] (September 8, 2021). "Bernie Sanders won his first local election at the age of 39 in 1981, the year I was born. I also ran for local office and won at the age of 39 because I wanted to do what he did, fight for the working people of my city. Happy 80th birthday @BernieSanders, you inspire me still" (Tweet). Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. Herenda, Devin (2020-09-17). "City Council Candidate Profile: Konstantine Anthony". myBurbank. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  3. "Burbank City Council names Vice Mayor Anthony as new mayor". Hey SoCal. December 20, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  4. Linton, Joe (December 21, 2020). antine-anthony/ "Interview with Newly Elected Burbank City Councilmember Konstantine Anthony". StreetsBlogLA. Retrieved May 24, 2023. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. Herenda, Devin (December 23, 2021). "Jess Talamantes Voted Mayor of Burbank, Konstantine Anthony Voted Vice Mayor at Council Meeting". myBurbank. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  6. "Burbank City Code". Code Publishing Company. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  7. "Konstantine Anthony, Mayor". City of Burbank. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  8. "Mayor Konstantine Anthony Kicks Off Campaign for LA County Supervisor". myBurbank. March 29, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  9. Quinton, Gavin (April 3, 2023). "Mayor Makes Bid for Supervisor Seat". Burbank Leader. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  10. "About Me". Konstantine Anthony for LA County Supervisor. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  11. Sherwood, Craig (April 20, 2023). "Burbank's Economy Braces for Possible Writer's Strike". myBurbank. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  12. Quinton, Gavin (May 22, 2023). "WGA Strike Grinds Production to a Halt". Burbank Leader. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  13. "California mayor spanked with a paddle by drag queen". Fox News. September 11, 2023.
  14. "Drag queen's spanking of Burbank mayor in video sparks anti-LGBTQ hate". Los Angeles Times. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  15. "Democrat mayor who was spanked by drag queen wants to 'destroy' police, prisons, claims Marxism is 'the real American dream'". Fox News. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  16. Sherwood, Craig (December 19, 2022). "New Burbank City Council Members Sworn In, Anthony Elected Mayor for 2023". myBurbank. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  17. "DSA is proud to endorse Konstantine Anthony for Burbank City Council, up for vote in Burbank, CA on Nov 3rd!!". Facebook. Democratic Socialists of America. September 30, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  18. Kloczko, Justin (April 13, 2022). "meet the LA mayoral candidates not fit for t.v." The Debaser. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  19. Girl, Maebe A. (February 14, 2023). "I'm excited to announce our first major endorsement for 2024: Mayor of Burbank, Konstantine Anthony. CA-30 includes Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, and West Hollywood. #MaebeForCongress #Burbank #Endorsement". Instagram. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  20. Friedman, Laura (February 14, 2023). "It's been an honor representing the close-knit community of #Burbank in the legislature & working closely with the city to on our shared priorities. I'm proud to announce that a majority of the City Council - @konstantineinca, @nickforburbank, @nikki_in_burbank are endorsing me to continue representing Burbank as its next Congressmember!". Instagram. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  21. Anthony, Konstantine [@KonstantineinCA] (February 14, 2023). "With the announcement of @SenFeinstein's retirement, I am excited to endorse @AdamSchiff for Senate. His support for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All are exemplary, but what won me over is his refusal to accept any corporate donations in this race. Citizens United has." (Tweet). Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Twitter.
  22. "Autistic Person Is Mayor of Burbank | Dreier Roundtable". Claremont McKenna College. January 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
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