MEET JAMES

James Johnson was elected to the City Council on June 8, 2010. James is honored to represent the 7th District of Long Beach—the most diverse district of America’s most diverse city.

James Johnson’s passion for his hometown started at an early age. With a supportive family and community behind him, he was taught that he could achieve his dreams. James saw that this was possible because of investments that the community had made: a clean and safe neighborhood to grow up in, local parks in which to play soccer and stay fit, and a world-class education provided by Poly High School. James resolved to come back and serve the community which had given him so much, and he moved back to Long Beach soon after finishing his studies.

Prior to being elected, he served as the Assistant City Auditor for the City of Long Beach. His focus at the City Auditor’s Office was to make our City as efficient and effective as possible in the services it provides to the community. He is proud of the successes that the Office had in protecting City assets, suggesting ways to save taxpayer dollars, and fighting fraud.

Prior to working for the City Auditor, James was hired by the City Clerk Department to advise the City on reforming its Charter. Working with the City Council and the community, he helped bring about the first structural charter reform in over twenty years. While at the Department, he also worked on several cost-saving initiatives, such as revising outdated municipal elections requirements to reduce excessive printing charges.

Previously, James practiced law at an international law firm in Los Angeles, where he focused on complex and commercial litigation. He also maintained a significant pro bono practice and helped obtain a settlement in a major international slavery and trafficking case. Before attending law school, James served on the campaign for then-Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal and in the policy division of the California Governor’s Office.

James serves on the boards of the Fairfield YMCA and For The Child (an anti-child abuse organization). He served for several years on the scholarship committee of the Long Beach Bar Association, the same group that helped him go to college many years ago.

James has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and a law degree from U.C. Berkeley School of Law. He is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach and an Eagle Scout from Long Beach Troop 120. James is a proud homeowner with his wife Nicole Altamirano, who teaches Spanish at Claremont McKenna College.