Millennium Magazine_8th Ed

153 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY H aving 50 years of service within municipal government, James T. Butts Jr. is Mayor of Inglewood, California, first inaugurated in 2011. Now in his third term, he oversees a city of more than 115,000 residents and is best known for his leadership role in the city’s economic transformation, from impending bankruptcy to one of the most successful cities in the United States. He reopened the Forum and negotiated the return of the NFL to Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, home of the Rams and Chargers. He was elected Chairman of The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, commonly known as LA Metro. This agency plans, operates and coordinates funding and construction for mass transportation systems in Los Angeles County. Prior to being elected Mayor of Inglewood, Mr. Butts served the Inglewood Police Department between 1972 and 1991 as a Community Service Officer, Patrol Officer, Narcotics Commander, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief of Police. Appointed at the age of 38, for 15 years, he was Chief of Police of Santa Monica. Afterwards, he was appointed Deputy Executive Director for LAX in charge of the Police, Counterterrorism and Security. Inspired by his father, James Sr. (who was the only one of his 11 siblings to attend college), Mr. Butts pursued a postgraduate education. In 1994, he received an MBA, graduating summa cum laude from California Polytechnic University at Pomona. His goals fromyouthwere toplayprofessional basketball or practice law. After two knee surgeries suffered while playing collegiate basketball, Mr. Butts was hired in Inglewood as a Community Service Officer, a federally funded program to attract minorities to law enforcement. As testament to his standing in California, Mr. Butts has been named one of the Top 500 Leaders in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. He attributes his success to the support of his parents and his wife, Judy. He looks forward to the opening of the Clippers Arena, Superbowl 56, Wrestlemania, an NCAA Championship Bowl game, a FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, all to be held in Inglewood. JAMES T. BUTTS JR. MAYOR City of Inglewood Inglewood, CA