 Englander served as chief of staff to City Councilman Greig Smith from 2003 to 2009, in Los Angeles City Council District 12, then in the Northwest San Fernando Valley.In September 2009 Englander launched his campaign to succeed Smith, who had announced retirement upon his term's end.Noting that Englander was the "consummate City Hall insider," the "Los Angeles Times" endorsed him as "the best of several good choices."