A retired Army colonel and sitting California Coastal Commissioner, Raymond A. Jackson is seeking a second term on the Hermosa Beach City Council. The Nov. 3, 2026, general election features a nonpartisan race with three open seats, and voters choose up to three candidates.

Jackson is one of six certified candidates, according to BallotReady election data and the Hermosa Beach city website. The others running are Dean Francois, Elka Worner, Eric Horne, Margaret Bove-LaMonica and Rob Saemann.

Candidate information

Name: Raymond A. Jackson

Office sought: Hermosa Beach City Council

Party: Nonpartisan

Incumbent: Yes. Jackson has served on the Hermosa Beach City Council since May 2021, according to the California Coastal Commission roster. His current term runs through November 2026.

Education: Bachelor's degree in biology from Florida Southern College; juris doctor from the University of Florida College of Law, according to the Coastal Commission roster.

Personal: Jackson is the son of immigrants and a first-generation American, according to the Coastal Commission roster.

Experience and public service

Jackson's public service record stretches back more than four decades. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a combat medic in 1980, according to the Coastal Commission roster. He later earned his law degree and served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, the military's legal branch. He retired as a colonel in 2015.

Jackson joined the Hermosa Beach City Council in May 2021. Since then, he has taken on several regional governance roles beyond the council dais.

The California Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senate Leader Mike McGuire, appointed Jackson to the California Coastal Commission as the South Coast region representative in May 2025, according to the Senate Rules Committee announcement. The Coastal Commission oversees land use and public access along the California coastline. Jackson's term on the commission runs through May 20, 2029.

Jackson also serves as a delegate to the Southern California Association of Governments and as a member of both the South Bay Cities Council of Governments and the Clean Power Alliance, according to the announcement. He is president-elect of the Independent Cities Association.

The Hermosa Beach City Council sets city policy, approves the municipal budget and makes land-use decisions for the coastal community.

This profile was compiled from publicly available government records and official announcements. No interview or questionnaire responses from the candidate were available for this profile. South Bay Tide will update this article if the candidate provides issue responses. Voters can find additional information on the Hermosa Beach city website.