Former Mayor

Jennifer King has over 35 years of experience in law, public policy and leadership consulting, and brings her unique perspective about public governance and civic engagement to ILG. She has a wide-ranging public service background that includes serving as the Chair of the Parklands Committee, Planning Commissioner, City Council Member and Mayor in the City of Palos Verdes Estates. On a regional level, she served as the Cal Cities Los Angeles Division President and as a member of the Cal Cities Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee. She was also appointed as an Executive Committee Member of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority.

Professionally, Jennifer practiced law the private, non-profit and public sectors. Certified as an Appellate Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, she spent her legal career as both an appellate advocate and as a Senior Judicial Attorney with the California Court of Appeal. She also held leadership positions with the California State Bar, including serving as Chair of the Appellate Law Advisory Commission and as a member of the Committee on Appellate Courts and the Committee on the Administration of Justice. She also served as President of the California Supreme Court Historical Society.

Jennifer received her B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University and her J.D. from Stanford Law School. Intrigued by the connection between law and policy evident throughout her public service, she recently obtained her Doctorate of Policy, Planning and Development from the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy, earning the Outstanding Dissertation Award. Her dissertation focused on local governance, and specifically the local initiative process.

Jennifer has worked as a consultant for a wide range of cities, counties and special districts in California. Her consulting services include governance training, strategic planning and goal setting, civic engagement and team building. She also has experience conducting community needs assessments.

In addition to her consulting practice, Jennifer teaches as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and Price School of Public Policy. Through her role as a member of the Advisory Council for the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership Advisory Council, she also lectures in the certificate program entitled “Local Government & Community: Partnering for Success.”