Democrat Clinton Killian is running for the Oakland City Council at Large to "Change for a Better Oakland". That’s why he’ll focus first on the issues that make the biggest difference in our quality of life – better schools, safer communities, quality healthcare and new investments in public transportation and infrastructure.

Clinton was born and raised in Hickory North Carolina. He moved to California in 1975 to go to Stanford University on an academic scholarship. He fell in love with Oakland and has made it his home. He has lived in North Oakland, West Oakland, Crocker Highlands and Montclair neighborhoods. Clinton is a successful attorney in Oakland who helped establish The Oakland Free Legal Clinic. He is a former Oakland Planning Commissioner who fought to increase home ownership for all people. He is a former member of the AC Transit Board of Directors who is fighting to increase public transportation options. He is a Stanford University graduate who volunteers as a student mentor. And he is an advocate for working people who helped build a grass roots coalition that stopped an illegal 600% utility tax increase in Oakland.

Personal, Political and Civic Highlights

• Started a solo practice from scratch directly out of law school in April 1985.  Within the first month, the practice generated a profit.  Able to build a civil law practice with primarily business, individual and insurance related clients.

Political activities

• Oakland Planning Commission 2001-05, elected vice chair after serving on board for four months, chair in 2003, review all land use and development issues in the City of Oakland.
• AC Transit elected official 1994-2000, vice president 1994-96, President 1996
• Treasurer Russo for City Attorney Campaign 1999-2000.
• Co-Chair NO on Measure Z Campaign 1998 successful campaign to defeat a 600% increase in utility tax that garnered 70% of vote.
• Co Founder Oakland Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee 1999 and served as its first president.
• Judge Pro Tempore, Alameda County Small Claims Court 1991-present.

Political Involvement

• I have been an active participant in Oakland politics since 1987, worked on the 2006 successful elections of Oakland Mayor Ronald Dellums and 16th District  Assemblyman Sandre Swanson.

Civic Activities

• Member, Board Member, or past president of numerous civic and community organizations including Oakland Chamber of Commerce, OAKPAC, Oakland Rotary Club, Paramount Theatre, and various bar associations.
• Served as legal counsel for several churches and nonprofit organizations.
• 1986 co-established The Oakland Free Legal Clinic, a pro bono legal clinic for the residents of West Oakland. In 1987, I became the sole manager and service provider.  In 1994, the clinic was sponsored by the Black Woman’s Resource Center in Oakland.  The clinic was open once a week and averaged about 10-15 people a week.  The Oakland Free Legal Clinic received numerous awards from various community organizations and bar associations regarding the exemplary pro bono service given to the Bay Area community.
• Weekly political columnist for the Oakland Globe Newspaper that can be viewed at http://www.theglobenewspapers.com/oakland.htm the Killian Analysis

EMPLOYMENT

Clinton Killian, Attorney At Law
July, 2002 to Present

Sole Practice with substantial client base.  Practice includes business and commercial litigation, real estate and land use, and probate.  Clients include municipalities and governmental agencies, utilities, churches, commercial and residential developers, and individual property owners.

Strickland, Haapala, Altura Harnett & Thompson Oakland, CA
Of Counsel August 1999 to June 2002
Of Counsel position at a midsize downtown Oakland civil litigation law firm. Civil litigation practice included: tort defense, premises liability, real estate, probate commercial/business and bankruptcy.

Killian & Associates
Owner 1990-1999
Created and built a start up sole practice.  Started business with personal savings and immediately generated clients. Within the first month, the practice was profitable. I was able to garner several major clients including Pacific Gas & Electric, State Farm Insurance, Ericsson Mobile Phone Company, Farmers Insurance, Budget Rent-A-Car, County of Alameda, County of San Francisco, as well as several other insurance companies and numerous individual businesses and commercial property owners, and substantial probate practice. The practice expanded to include eight attorneys; sixteen support employees, and three related businesses. I generated all firm clients.

EDUCATION

• UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law 1983 JD
• Stanford University 1979 BA Political Science
• Active volunteer, Stanford Alumni Association, Keystone Program, Student mentor program
• Past president, Northern California Stanford Black Alumni Association
• Guest speaker and panelist for numerous alumni, student and career planning programs

Personal:  Clinton is married to Katrina and has two sons currently attending college, Tracy and Shane