John Mckinney
Candidate for City Attorney, Los Angeles · Deputy District Attorney
John McKinney grew up in a low-income, high-crime neighborhood and graduated from Passaic High School in New Jersey. He briefly attended William Paterson State College and then worked as a blacksmith, a carpenter's apprentice, and a warehouse worker before earning an associate degree from Passaic County Community College while working full time, followed by a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University. He moved to Los Angeles in 1994 and earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1997, then joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, where he has worked for nearly 30 years. He has prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to capital murder, trying more than 100 jury cases, including 40 murder cases, with a 97 percent conviction rate. He currently serves as Bureau Director of Specialized Prosecutions, leading more than 300 attorneys and staff across divisions handling juveniles, family violence, sex crimes, narcotics, major crimes, and gang homicide. He has lived as a renter in Los Angeles neighborhoods including West Los Angeles, Palms, and Downtown for most of his adult life before eventually buying a home in Baldwin Hills.
Positions in brief
McKinney's platform centers on prosecuting quality-of-life crime, tighter fiscal management of the City Attorney's Office, tenant protections, and rooting out corruption in city government.
McKinney says he would focus enforcement on repeat offenders driving quality-of-life crime, retail theft and organized shoplifting, illegal firearms possession, street racing, and open-air drug markets. He says he understands renters' struggles from his own decades as a tenant and would work with the Housing Department and community groups to enforce existing tenant-protection laws while treating landlords fairly. On homelessness, he supports what he calls 'compassionate accountability' — keeping sidewalks, parks, and schools clear of dangerous encampments while connecting people to services, housing, and treatment rather than punishment. He supports stronger workplace protections against wage theft, unsafe conditions, and misclassification. He pledges to defend all Angelenos, including immigrants, against what he calls unconstitutional federal immigration enforcement, regardless of politics or immigration status. On the budget, he wants to reduce the city's legal liability by working proactively with departments to prevent lawsuits, review outside counsel spending, and modernize case management to cut unnecessary legal costs. He also wants to strengthen ethics and transparency in city contracting and make the City Attorney's Office more responsive to neighborhood councils and community groups.
On the issues
- Public Safety & Policing
Wants to focus enforcement on repeat offenders and quality-of-life crimes like retail theft, illegal firearms, street racing, and open-air drug markets.
“It is whether families feel safe walking their streets, whether small businesses can stay open, and whether our parks and public spaces remain welcoming for everyone.”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Supports enforcing existing tenant-protection laws against harassment, illegal eviction, and unsafe conditions while treating landlords fairly.
“Tenants deserve safe housing, fair treatment, and meaningful legal protections.”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Supports stronger enforcement against wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and worker misclassification.
“every worker deserves dignity, fairness, and protection under the law”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Supports keeping sidewalks, parks, and schools clear of dangerous encampments while connecting people to housing, treatment, and services.
“The solution requires compassion, services, and accountability.”
Source → - Immigration & Border
Pledges to defend all Angelenos, including immigrants, against federal immigration enforcement he considers unconstitutional.
“I will always protect Angelenos against unconstitutional ICE raids and Trump administration overreach.”
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Wants the City Attorney's Office to work proactively with departments to prevent costly lawsuits rather than just respond to them.
“Protecting taxpayer dollars starts with better legal management and accountability.”
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Wants to review outside counsel spending and modernize case management to cut unnecessary legal costs.
“Fiscal responsibility and operational excellence must be core priorities of the City Attorney's Office.”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports stronger ethics enforcement and transparency in city contracting.
“Government works only when the public trusts it.”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Wants the City Attorney's Office to engage more directly with neighborhood councils, business groups, and community organizations.
“Good government begins with listening and accountability.”
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports enforcing environmental laws against illegal dumping and violations that harm air and water quality.
“Protecting our environment is essential to preserving the quality of life for current residents and future generations.”
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.