David S. Cunningham Jr.
Los Angeles, California
California politician and consultant, David Surmier Cunningham, Jr. was born June 24, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois to Eulah Mae Lawson Cunningham and Rev. David S. Cunningham, Sr. At age eight, Cunningham accompanied his parents to Decatur, Illinois where he attended E.A. Gastman Elementary School and enjoyed musical instruction at Millikan University. In 1952, Cunningham graduated from Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri as a Danforth Award winner. He earned his A.A. degree in 1954 from Stowe Teachers College. Joining the United States Air Force in 1954, Cunningham served as a cartographer, interacting with the U-2 until 1960. During the Korean conflict, Airmen First Class Cunningham supplied charts and aerial photographs that helped with reconnaissance and bombing raids for the Air Force.
He attended the historic 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California before enrolling at the University of California at Riverside. He graduated with a B.A. degree in economics and political science in 1962. In 1963, Cunningham, on a public affairs internship from the Coro Foundation, served as administrative aide to California assemblyman, Charles Warren. In 1973, he received his M.A. degree in urban studies from Occidental College.
In 1964, Cunningham, moved to Lagos, Nigeria and became West Africa regional manager for the DuKane Corporation. In 1967, he joined the Hughes Aircraft Company as manager of community relations. There, he co-managed the Hughes Active Citizenship Program. He then went on to found Cunningham, Short, Berryman & Associates in 1968, where he provided management consultation to government and small businesses.
In 1973, Cunningham took Mayor Tom Bradley's place on the Los Angeles City Council, representing the Tenth District. As a councilman, Cunningham authored legislation creating the Mayor's Office of Small Business Assistance. He also pioneered the use of government grants to restore public buildings; created a system of community senior citizens centers; and served as chairman of the Grants, Housing and Community Development Committee. Cunningham served as state chairman of the Carter California Delegation to the Democratic National Committee in 1976. In 1986, he joined Cranston/Prescott Investment Bankers as senior vice president-public finance. Cunningham served as senior vice president of Community Housing Equity Corporation from 1988 to 1991 while forming Dave Cunningham and Associates, a public affairs consultant firm. Cunningham serves on a number of boards and has received the Southern California Fair Housing Award in 1984.
