Ira Lechner

Ira Lechner "currently serves as Council for a Livable World's Chairman, replacing Senator Gary Hart, who remains on the Council's Board of Directors. Ira Lechner is a lawyer in San Diego who has long been involved in nuclear non-proliferation issues and politics. He has traveled extensively on study tours and for international seminars. He is Chair of the Board of Directors of his family foundation, "Project High Hopes," which has initiated sustainable development projects in South Africa. Lechner intends to travel widely to meet with Council supporters and build support for the 67 votes needed for ratification of our nuclear treaties.

"Lechner has been a member of the Council's Board of Directors since 2008.

"He has been involved in Democratic Politics since 1960. He practiced Labor Law for over 40 years in Washington, DC, representing Federal Employees and local Labor Unions. He now lives in San Diego, but remains involved in Democratic political campaigns, and continues to practice law in Washington. Mr. Lechner was the original organizer of the Obama for President Campaign in San Diego and later served as a fundraiser.

"In his early career, he served as an enlisted man in the United States Army at Fort Dix, and later as an officer in the Defense Appellate Division of the United States Army (JAG) at the Pentagon.

"Lechner was elected to the Virginia State Legislature from Arlington/Alexandria, 1973-77. Thereafter, he was a Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia, and was the Democratic nominee for Congress in the Tenth Congressional District of Virginia in 1982 vs. Republican incumbent Frank Wolf.

"Formerly, Lechner served as Counsel to the Employment and Productivity Subcommittee of the United States Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources as a member of the staff of former United States Senator Paul Simon. Lechner previously served as Counsel to the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO); as Associate General Counsel, UFCW & Retail Clerks, AFL-CIO; and litigated in the Federal courts as an attorney in the Appellate Division of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

"Lechner was elected in a national referendum of America’s colleges and universities to the National Board of the Council On Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). He served as its Treasurer as well as on its Executive Committee. He served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, Chair of its Development Committee, and Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.

"Lechner graduated with a B.A. in History from Randolph-Macon College and with a J.D. from Yale Law School."