For 54 years, James T. Butts, Jr. has dedicated his life to public service with one simple goal: making communities safer, stronger, and better places to call home. A Los Angeles native who was raised on the values of hard work, responsibility, and service, Mayor Butts has spent his career protecting neighborhoods, solving problems, and helping local government deliver real results for the people it serves. That journey has taken him from police officer to police chief, homeland security executive, and, since 2011, Mayor of the city where his public service began—Inglewood.

After graduating from Crenshaw High School, Mayor Butts earned degrees in business administration from California State University, Los Angeles and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He began his career in 1972 as a police cadet with the Inglewood Police Department, working his way through nearly every division before rising to Deputy Chief of Police. Those years gave him firsthand experience serving residents and understanding the everyday challenges families face.

Mayor Butts later served as Chief of Police in Santa Monica, where he focused on building trust between law enforcement and the community while leading one of the state’s most respected police departments. He then joined Los Angeles World Airports as Assistant General Manager for Public Safety and Homeland Security, helping oversee security and emergency operations at one of the nation’s busiest airport systems during the years following the September 11 attacks. Throughout each role, he earned a reputation as a steady, thoughtful leader who could bring people together and guide organizations through difficult challenges.

When Mayor Butts returned to Inglewood in 2011, he believed Inglewood deserved better—and that with responsible leadership and a clear vision, the city could write a new chapter. Working alongside residents, businesses, and community partners, he helped restore the city’s financial stability, strengthen City Hall, and lay the foundation for lasting growth.

Under Mayor Butts’ leadership, Inglewood has become one of the country’s premier destinations for sports, entertainment, and investment. Landmark projects including Hollywood Park, SoFi Stadium, and Intuit Dome have brought billions of dollars in private investment, created thousands of jobs, and made Inglewood the home of world-class events ranging from the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff National Championship to the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

But for Mayor Butts, success has never been measured only by new buildings or major events. He has remained committed to making sure the city’s progress benefits the people who have always called Inglewood home. His administration has invested in safer neighborhoods, improved streets and infrastructure, expanded housing opportunities, and strengthened community services. Mayor Butts continues to fight for Inglewood’s longtime residents and its future generations to come. 

From a young police cadet walking the streets of Inglewood to the city’s longest-serving mayor, he has spent a lifetime believing that when local government works, communities thrive. His leadership has helped reshape Inglewood while never losing sight of the people who make it special.