James Cody Birkey
Trustee Area 3

Beginning in 2017, James Cody Birkey has been representing Trustee Area 3, which encompasses the majority of Bellflower. Since then, he has been re-elected twice.

A proud Bellflower resident, Birkey works as Senior Vice President with JLL (a Fortune 500 Company, NYSE: JLL), where he is responsible for JLL’s national advisory practice for civic reinvestment & housing, which specializes in advancing public institutions’ strategic capital investments, urban revitalization, and housing. 

Birkey holds a master's degree from Harvard University in real estate economics and finance (with distinction) and was awarded the Mansfield-Colloredo Prize for achievement in that field. He received a bachelor's degree in architecture (cum laude) and a bachelor's degree in international economics (cum laude) from the University of Oregon. He also holds a professional certificate from the University of Oxford-Saïd Business School.

He has lectured at several institutions in the fields of both design and economics. Birkey is active in several non-profits and social justice initiatives in Southeast Los Angeles County and elsewhere.