Tim McOsker, a former city prosecutor, mayoral aide and lobbyist for the union that represents Los Angeles police officers announced Wednesday he will run for the City Council’s District 15 seat in 2022.
The San Pedro area district is currently represented by Councilman Joe Buscaino, who announced Monday he will run for mayor.
McKoster is a longtime resident of San Pedro.
“I want to first commend Joe Buscaino for his years of dedicated service to the 15th District,” he said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “The past two days, I have received strong encouragement from neighborhood and labor leaders, working families, elected officials, business owners and city leaders who urged me to run for LA City Council.”
McOsker said he plans to focus on the homelessness crisis and rising rent prices, as well as rebuilding Los Angeles’ economy and infrastructure and “reimagining and improving” public safety.
The Los Angeles Times reported that during McKoster’s work as a registered lobbyist, he represented the hotel industry and the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
He told The Times that he believed his familiarity with the police department would be an asset in dealing with issues around policing and public safety.
“Who better to help navigate the issues of constitutional policing and, if we are reimagining public safety, how we do so and keep our communities safe,” he said.
McOsker is currently the CEO of a nonprofit at the Port of Los Angeles that focuses on job creation, ocean sustainability and scientific discovery. He also sits on the governing board of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the San Pedro Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District, the Bridge Cities Alliance, the Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in South Bay and the Linc Housing Corporation.
He previously served as chief of staff under James Hahn, who was Los Angeles mayor from 2001 until 2005. From 1997-2001, he was chief deputy city attorney. Before working for Los Angeles, he was deputy city attorney in Long Beach.
McKoster graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Government and English. He received his law degree from UCLA in 1987, according to his LinkedIn profile.
McKoster currently faces one opponent, Bryant Odega, an environmental justice activist who says he would be the youngest council member in recent history. In his campaign announcement, Odega highlighted his working-class background growing up in a rent-controlled apartment in Council District 15 and attending the area’s public schools.
“I am fighting for housing for all, a green new deal, and reimagining public safety as well as many other bold, transformative changes our community needs,” he said in his Feb. 4 announcement, which also said his campaign will not accept corporate, fossil fuel, real estate or police association funding.