Councilman Jonathan Bowers
jbowers@comptoncity.org

Liaison
Alicia Thompson
(310) 605-5612
athompson@comptoncity.org

Councilman Jonathan Bowers is a lifelong resident of the City of Compton, having proudly called the community home for more than 60 years. He brings over four decades of experience in public service, emergency response, and community leadership to his role as a member of the Compton City Council.

Councilman Bowers began his public service career in 1979 as an Emergency Medical Technician at Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital before advancing to the Compton Fire Department. He served the community for 37 years as a firefighter, educator, administrator, and leader in emergency medical services.

He obtained teaching credentials in 2002 and later graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science Administration. During his fire service career, he also served as a liaison to the Compton City Council, Mayor’s Office, and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, gaining extensive experience in municipal operations and intergovernmental coordination.

Councilman Bowers is a longtime member of the Los Angeles County Stentorians, the historic African American Firefighters’ Association. He served 11 years on the Executive Board in multiple leadership roles, including Executive Vice President, and has been a member for more than 20 years.

His service also includes roles as Union President, Fire Explorer Scout Advisor, and participant on numerous City of Compton and Los Angeles County Fire Department committees. He has also led international fire safety initiatives, training firefighters and advising government officials in Haiti and Zambia.

In 2021, Councilman Bowers was elected to represent Compton’s Third District. His leadership is guided by three core priorities: being the voice of the people, ensuring financial accuracy and accountability, and creating a blueprint for efficiency, sustainability, and responsible governance for future generations.

Councilman Bowers has led major improvements to Compton’s emergency readiness, including expansion of the citywide camera system (LVT and Flock), implementation of ShotSpotter technology, fire station upgrades, acquisition of new fire apparatus, installation of generators at all fire stations and City Hall, and correction of State Fire Marshal violations at City Hall.

He also championed the creation of the City’s Emergency Preparedness Guide, Emergency Operations Center procedures, Code Red alert and preparedness QR codes, aircraft disaster training and aviation first responder drills, and installation of AEDs and Stop the Bleed kits at City facilities and parks, with training available for city employees.

Councilman Bowers has championed major infrastructure and quality-of-life projects, including the Wilmington Project renovation, Artesia Bridge restoration, and securing $20 million for street and infrastructure revitalization. Additional improvements include street rehabilitation, paving, traffic safety enhancements, tree trimming, stump grinding, reflective traffic borders, park upgrades, and a new soccer field at Burrell MacDonald Park, as well as enhancements at Tucker Park and Camp Fire Girls Grounds.

Councilman Bowers has advanced policies to improve neighborhood safety, including intersection traffic-calming devices, an ordinance addressing street racing and intersection takeovers with vehicle confiscation provisions, coyote safety education for residents, restoration of the Public Safety and Beautification Commissions, and improved coordination between the City of Compton and the Compton Unified School District.

Councilman Bowers led the development of a draft citywide strategic plan titled Engineering Our Future and advanced initiatives focused on access, preparedness, and innovation, including translation equipment acquisition, the PACE water program, creation of the Olympic Development Commission, a multi-city prostitution task force with RDS Restoration Diversion Services, and the Path-to-Permit ordinance for street vendors supporting public health and economic opportunity.

Councilman Bowers has supported economic growth throughout Compton, including new residential developments along Compton Boulevard and Central Avenue, support for the reopening of Original Sea Food on Wilmington Avenue, and initiatives supporting the revitalization of the Compton Golf Course.

Councilman Bowers serves on numerous local, regional, and statewide boards, including the California League of Cities (Voting Delegate), League of Cities Public Safety Committee, Gateway Cities Board, State Mandated Finance Committee, Independent Cities Association of Los Angeles County, EECI Entrepreneur Education Center Board, Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District (Trustee), and the National Association for Equal Justice in America, where he serves as Vice Chair of the Southern California Firefighters Committee. He is also a member of Concerned Citizens and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Councilman Bowers works closely with neighborhood block clubs and community organizations throughout the Third District, including Amantha Street, D-3, Sunny Cove (Phases 1-4), Richland Farms, and Golden Street Block Clubs. He actively supports community cleanups, food distributions, and toy drives in partnership with organizations such as Bright Lights of Compton and United Hands of Compton Food Pantry.

Councilman Bowers has been recognized for his service locally and internationally. He has been honored by Sister Cities International in South Africa for cultural exchange, homelessness, and public safety efforts and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars for leadership and commitment to the City of Compton.