Jackie Lacey made history Tuesday night, becoming the first African-American and first female chief prosecutor of Los Angeles County.
Lacey, the chief deputy district attorney, won with a substantial lead over Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson Tuesday in the race to succeed District Attorney Steve Cooley.
By midnight, Lacey had all but officially declared victory and packed up her election night party at Union Station downtown.
As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, with 95 percent of precincts reporting, Lacey had 55 percent of the vote, to Jackson’s 45 percent.
“When I started out in the justice system, it was thought to be almost impossible for someone of color to be in charge of the largest local prosecutor’s office in the nation,” Lacey said in an interview Tuesday night.
“The fact that voters are choosing the most qualified candidate, and that she happens to be a woman, and happens to be African American, affirms our democracy,” she added.
As district attorney, she said she will install her own leadership team, and will expand the office’s
focus on alternative sentencing courts in an effort to reduce recidivism and ease jail overcrowding.
“I think my mission will be to make sure that all communities are safe,” she added.
Read more: Pasadena Star News
