Meet Andrew Kim, Candidate For Los Angeles Mayor

LOS ANGELES, CA — Andrew Kim, 66, is vying to be elected as the Los Angeles mayor.

In the June 2 primary, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass will face a challenge from 13 other candidates as she seeks a second term. Among them is Kim.

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Learn more about Kim's goals for Los Angeles:

What is your educational background?

I have a juris doctor degree from Pepperdine School of Law (1986). Before that, I graduated from Claremont McKenna College with B.A. in political science (1982).

While practicing the law, I attended the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and obtained master of theology. I am presently a doctoral candidate in the field of religion at Claremont Graduate School.

What is your professional background?

I I have been practicing law in Los Angeles since 1990. I have been practicing as a solo practitioner within my own law office, Law Offices of Andrew Kim, for more than thirty years.

I also had volunteered as a temporary judge in the county of Los Angeles for several years.

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

Served as a commissioner in Los Angeles County Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Commission for about ten years and was a founding member of Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council.

What are the top three issues facing Los Angeles right now?

First, the homelessness within the city of Los Angeles. Right now, the homeless population is victimized by the misguided "housing first" policy which current Mayor Bass has been pursuing without much success. The consensus is that there are around 45,000 homeless population within the city of Los Angeles and about 75% of them have drug related problem.

We need to institute the "recovery first" policy to help the homeless population to recover and become independent.

Second, the public waste and corruption which seem to be endemic within the city government. Right now, there is a structural problem within the city budget which current Mayor refuses or unable to fix once for all.

Third, the problem of affordability for Angelenos. Within last ten years or so, the life in Los Angeles has gotten very expensive for every angelenos. It has also gotten very expensive to do a business in the city of Los Angeles.

What is one specific policy you would implement in your first 100 days?

I would declare the State of Emergency to address the homelessness in the city. As the mayor, I would direct the strict enforcement of anti-loitering, anti-camping laws to make sure the state of homelessness will be immediately on the path to be solved with rigorous implementation of recovery first policy for those with drug and mental issues and effective hand-up programs for all homeless population.

What is your plan to reduce homelessness, and how would you measure success after one year?

With the declaration of the State of Emergency, I would direct the strict enforcement of anti-loitering and anti-camping laws in order to channel the homeless population to the path to recovery and/or financial sustainability. I would engage such nonprofit groups as Salvation Army, Coalition To End Homelessness in Los Angeles and others to supplement the city programs to help these homeless population with hand-up assistance toward secure independent living. The measure of success after one year would be a clear movement of each and every homeless population who want to help themselves toward self sufficiency and self sustainment with no need for additional funds to maintain the system, accompanied by access to stable housing or shelters.

What is one specific change you would make to improve public safety?

First and foremost, the solution of homelessness will greatly improve the public safety. I have a vision and plan to solve the homelessness problem once for all as laid out elsewhere in this survey.

Second, I would increase the LAPD budget so that there will be at least one thousand more police officers.

Third, I would encourage the collaboration of LAPD with the neighborhood based public safety volunteer groups such as the one in Koreatown where civic minded neighborhood based volunteer groups can be guided and trained by LAPD to help the overall public safety of our city.

How would you improve transparency or accountability at City Hall?

In collaboration with the city controller and outside civic minded experts, I would engineer the top down audit of the city departments to improve transparency and accountability at the City Hall. The fact that over one billion dollars of unforeseen deficit in the city budget, nearly ten percent of the total budget, was needed to be somehow funded during the last year is clear warning signal that the city's financial health is in dire straits. It is also a clear sign of lack of accountability when one billion or more of homelessness fund is unaccounted for as disclosed by the office of city controller.

Lastly but not least, I would clean up the city hall from the stench of DEI and WOKE cancel culture ideology based preferences in appointing or elevating certain individuals to the position of responsibility. I would insist on the singular criteria of one's own merit with the appreciation for public servant-hood in promoting and rewarding the city employees.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

I believe that I can be a better mayor in this difficulty time in our city because I have a vision and plan to solve the homelessness in our city. I also have a plan to liberate our city from the policies based on misguided left ideology of DEI and WOKE cancel culture which makes our beloved city to be unaffordable and unlivable. I have a plan to lead our city with innovative policies which will provide real help for those hard working honest Angelenos and make our city of angels proud and prosperous. I call it “Project Liberation of Los Angeles 2026”.

First, I will strive to liberate our businesses. I want to help our small and medium sized businesses to thrive with easing of regulations and taxes, while creating the economic revitalization zone in different parts of Los Angeles.

Second, I will strive to liberate our neighborhood. Our neighborhood is being over-burdened with homelessness, petty crimes, unaffordable housing and even horrendous parking problems. As a resident of the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, I personally experience everyday these qualify of life challenges being faced by fellow Angelenos and I will immediately tackle to improve the quality of life within our city.

As the next mayor, I will strive to make the City Hall once again operate on the principle of ethical public servant-hood, merit based promotion and check and balance for efficient and competent operation of our city. Thank you.