Councilmember Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD, made history as the first Iranian-Jewish female mayor in the United States when she was sworn in as mayor of Beverly Hills, California, on April 1, 2025. Each term as mayor is one year, meaning she is currently up for reelection, taking place on June 2.
Nazarian is an immigrant from Iran and said she left her country of origin due to religious persecution. She said she has dedicated her career to spreading awareness about the importance of inclusivity and giving those without a voice a platform to speak out. Throughout her mayoral term, she launched multiple public safety initiatives, including “Drone in a Box” and “BHPD LIVE LINK,” which provide live and continuous updates during an emergency. She also released “BH Wellness Network,” which helps cover out-of-pocket costs for medical services, as well as “BH FIRE WATCH,” which allows firefighters to better track current conditions through proactive monitoring and use of advanced technology.
The Oracle sat down with Nazarian to discuss her journey to become the first Iranian-Jewish female mayor.
What was it like growing up as an immigrant?
Sharona Nazarian [SN]: I left my country of origin due to religious persecution. I was very young. I had to move to two different countries after that, and there were moments where it was quite challenging. I remember not knowing how to speak the language and I would get very excited in school when we had math because that was a universal language that we understood. But it was challenging. There were definitely very difficult moments, but I refused to have a victim mentality and pushed through. I’m very proud to live in this great country.
How did the challenge of English being your third language shape your dedication to “giving those without a voice a platform to speak out?”
[SN]: Yes, I try to be a voice for those who don’t have one. So we experience certain things happening in the world where we need to stand up for human rights, women’s rights and just basically being a good human being. And so I’ve prided myself in trying to stand up for for basic human rights.
What advice would you give to other young immigrant women who aspire to hold high public office, especially those who come from backgrounds where their voices were restricted?
[SN]: I think it’s very important to work hard. I deeply believe in working hard, doing your homework and becoming as educated as possible. I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. And standing up for your beliefs. So never give up. Always work hard and study so you can get to your goals.
With roughly 25% of Beverly Hills residents being Iranian American, what message did you hope to send by becoming the first Iranian-Jewish mayor in U.S. history?
[SN]: Well, it’s a very humbling position to be in because where would you think that an immigrant girl would be the mayor of the city of Beverly Hills? So it’s been my honor and privilege to be able to serve our community and really be a voice for our entire community, regardless of their background. And I hope that the community sees that we have accomplished that, that we have come together as one united community to bring everyone together, to bring fresh energy and ideas, and, I always say, a safer, stronger and more united Beverly Hills together.
What is the single biggest impact you hope to have left on the city of Beverly Hills?
[SN]: I hope that I’ve made significant impact in very of wide array of aspects in our community. I had 13 initiatives. My theme for this year was unity to bring our community together regardless of race, religion or cultural background because I believe that Beverly Hills is such a beautiful and diverse community that deserves recognition for that. So that was one. The second was that our city crime is down by 20% in the city of Beverly Hills and that’s as a result of our real-time watch center and all the great work of our Beverly Hills Police Department.
‘Never Again Is Now’ is one of your 13 key initiatives. Could you discuss your work in establishing a permanent sculpture for the Oct. 7 victims?
[SN]: So after Oct. 7, it was a devastating time for many in our community. They were directly impacted by what happened on Oct. 7 and they had family members who were impacted. So I launched ‘Never Again Is Now’ to be a clear voice against hate, discrimination and antisemitism, and that’s really an effort to educate the next generation so that no one suffers such atrocities ever again. And it’s to educate our youth and our community, and those who come to visit, and they see this sculpture that we’re working on.
How did it feel to be the first Iranian-Jewish woman to be mayor of Beverly Hills and the United States?
[SN]: So I’m the first Iranian American Jewish woman to be mayor of any city across the United States. I’m also the first Iranian American Jewish woman to be mayor of Beverly Hills. So it’s quite humbling. There’s a big responsibility that is tied to it, but at the same time, I feel like I am merely a reflection of our great city and all the incredible people in it. It’s my honor to be able to serve our community and to be a voice for all different community members regardless of race, religion or cultural background.
