Meet John McKinney, Candidate For Los Angeles City Attorney

LOS ANGELES, CA — John McKinney, 57, is vying to be elected as the Los Angeles city attorney.

In the June 2 primary, incumbent City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto will face three challengers in her bid to seek a second term. Running against her are McKinney, Aida Ashouri and Marissa Roy.

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Learn more about McKinney's goals for Los Angeles:

What is your educational background?

I grew up in a low-income, high-crime neighborhood. After graduating from Passaic High School, I briefly attended William Paterson State College before leaving to work various jobs, including blacksmith, carpenter's apprentice and warehouse worker.

I later returned to school, earning an associate degree from Passaic County Community College while working full time, followed by a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University.

I moved to Los Angeles in 1994 and earned my J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1997.

What is your professional background?

After graduating from law school, I joined the LA County District Attorney’s Office, where I’ve served for nearly 30 years. I’ve prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to capital murder, conducting over 100 jury trials, including 40 murder cases, with a 97% conviction rate.

I currently serve as director of specialized prosecutions, overseeing eight divisions handling juveniles, family violence, sex crimes, narcotics, major crimes and gang homicide.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

I have spent my entire career as a public servant and prosecutor working to improve public safety and our system of justice here in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles city attorney prosecutes misdemeanor offenses. How would you prioritize which cases to pursue?

The focus of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office must be on the crimes that are most directly impacting the public safety of our communities and the quality of life or our neighborhoods.

That means prioritizing cases involving repeat offenders who drive quality-of-life crime through theft, vandalism, and destruction of property. It also means focusing on retail theft and organized shoplifting, which have become a major challenge for small businesses across Los Angeles. When businesses are repeatedly targeted, it threatens their ability to stay open and serve their communities.

The City Attorney must prioritize dangerous activity like street racing and open-air drug markets, as well as cases involving illegal firearms possession, because these offenses pose immediate risks to public safety and often contribute to more serious criminal activity.

Finally, the city attorney needs to play an active role in addressing the homelessness crisis — keeping sidewalks passable, protecting parks and schools, and addressing dangerous encampments that threaten community safety.

At the same time, the city attorney’s approach must include compassionate accountability. This is not about punishment for its own sake — it is about restoring order while working closely with diversion programs and service providers to help people access housing, treatment and support. A balanced approach ensures laws are applied in ways that protect public safety while respecting the dignity of individuals.

What is one specific change you would make within the City Attorney’s Office to improve its effectiveness or public trust?

The city attorney plays an important role in ensuring that city officials and departments operate with transparency, integrity, and accountability. That includes defending ethical governance, promoting transparency in city contracting, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.

Unfortunately, the current city attorney has been plagued with issues of mismanagement that have eroded public trust. Take for example the recent scandal regarding the thousands of confidential and sensitive LAPD records that were leaked online from the City Attorney’s Office. Or the millions of dollars in settlements that the city has paid out leading to questions of conflicts-of-interest and ethics violations.

These are issues that are avoidable with competent, experienced leadership at the helm of the City Attorney’s Office. As city attorney, I will put my experience to work for the residents of Los Angeles and deliver on public safety and accountability at City Hall.

Los Angeles faces significant legal costs from lawsuits, including police misconduct and city operations. What role should the City Attorney’s Office play in reducing the city’s legal exposure, and what specific approaches would you prioritize?

The City Attorney’s Office must be an efficient steward of public funds, delivering strong legal representation while minimizing unnecessary costs.

Since 2020, the City of Los Angeles paid out nearly $1.1 billion in liability — much of it avoidable and better spent on infrastructure and public services. While some victims deserved compensation, many incidents could have been prevented.

As city attorney, I would implement an aggressive risk management strategy to reduce lawsuits and payouts, vigorously defend against frivolous claims, and settle meritorious cases early to avoid costly verdicts.

Effective litigation requires knowing which cases to fight and which to resolve, saving taxpayers money while ensuring accountability. That judgment comes from experience: I’ve been a career litigator, which is exactly what’s needed to protect taxpayers without sacrificing justice. Moreover, I would reduce the number of cases we farm out to private firms. We have nearly 500 attorneys on staff which is more than enough to prosecute the majority of cases.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

I am the only candidate in this race who has spent their entire career working in public safety. While my opponents were representing big business, broken government agencies, and special interest groups — I was on the ground fighting for justice and public safety on the streets of Los Angeles.

We have an opportunity in Los Angeles to change the direction of our communities by choosing a new city attorney who will protect our residents and actually address the critical issues plaguing our neighborhoods — like crime and homelessness.

I hope to earn your vote.