Race for Los Angeles County DA getting crowded



The election for Los Angeles County District Attorney is still more than a year away, but the race is already starting to shape up. Many people — including current D.A. Steve Cooley himself — may have expected Cooley to be sitting in the California Attorney General’s office by now, but he lost to San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris in the November 2010 election. Cooley has not yet said whether he will run for a fourth term as D.A., only that he would consider seeking reelection if no qualified candidates come forward.

As of March 14, there are five candidates who have officially tossed their hats into the ring. It is believed that L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich will run, but he hasn’t officially declared. All of the declared candidates so far are from the D.A.’s office.

Bobby Grace
image Prosecutor Bobby Grace is the latest candidate to enter the race. He has been in the DA’s office since he graduated from Loyola Law School 23 years ago He is now a prosecutor in the Major Crimes Division. Grace says he has prosecuted more than 60 murder cases. In 1996, while he was in the Hardcore Gang Division, he prosecuted Calvin Broadus (aka Snoop Doggy Dogg) and his bodyguard for murder. In 2002, The Association of Deputy District Attorneys awarded Grace the “Pursuit of Justice Award” for convicting Los Angeles minister Henry Hayes, who was accused of murdering his wife and young daughter.

Alan Jackson

Prosecutor Alan Jackson was the first candidate to declare his candidacy for D.A. He serves as Assistant Head Deputy of the Major Crimes Division. imageIn his 16 years in the D.A.’s office, Jackson prosecuted music producer Phil Specter on murder charges and the accused murderer of high school student Lily Burk. He was named Prosecutor of the Year in 2009 and 2010. He got off to an early start on major fundraising efforts, collecting almost $114,000 in campaign donations in December. However, he is a Republican running in a solidly Democratic county.

Jacquelyn Lacey
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Jacquelyn “Jackie” Lacey is the third ranking administrator in the D.A.’s office and thought to be the closest to Cooley. Lacey grew up in the Crenshaw District and attended Dorsey High School, though she now lives in the Northridge area. She has been a prosecutor in the D.A.’s office for 24 years. Her bio says she is spearheading the movement in the D.A.’s office to bring formal leadership training to everyone who supervises prosecutors. If elected, she would be the first African-American and first female D.A. in L.A. County.

Danette Meyers
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Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers has been with the D.A.’s office for 24 years. She has served as a prosecutor in the Career Criminal Unit, the Special Trials Division of the Van Nuys Branch Office and the Crimes Against Peace Officers Unit. Meyers is handling the prosecution of Lindsay Lohan on charges of stealing a necklace. Lohan has claimed that Meyers is “out to get” her. In all, Meyers has prosecuted some 200 jury trials. If elected, she would be the first African-American and first female D.A. in L.A. County.
Update March 8: Former DA Gil Garcetti endorsed Meyers calling her “a leader, a visionary and a person who clearly understands and accepts the responsibilities of being the elected district attorney heading an office of 1,000 prosecutors.”

Mario Trujillo
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Deputy District Attorney Mario Trujillo is the newest candidate to declare. He made the announcement at the Mexican American Bar Association installation dinner on February 5, where he was honored as Attorney of the Year by the South East District Bar Association. Trujillo lives in Downey; he’s been with the D.A.’s office for 14 years; he now manages the D.A.’s Bellflower Office. He is a former president of the Mexican American Bar Association.

The Los Angeles Dragnet Blog identifies five or six other people who might run, such City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. Check out Los Angeles Dragnet for more extensive discussion on the DA race.

The LA Weekly also has coverage of the candidates.

Comments

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  2. da candidate says:

    with so many weak candidates this will definitely be a close race

    since political gender bias leaves women out of the race

    it’s really between mario and alan

    mario takes a lot of flack in the courtroom for not being available for his staff (may change if he reads this)

    can the city really afford to do without alan? it might help if alan can name his successor

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