Kevin Acebo

Strategic Counsel – Los Angeles, CA

Kevin Acebo, a valued strategic consultant for the Pacific Stategy Group, possesses a public policy, public affairs and political career that spans over 30 years.

Since the spring of 2008, Kevin launched Acebo and Associates, LLC, a strategic public policy/political advocacy and business development firm. As President and Owner of Acebo and Associates, Kevin’s clients include both business, environmental, political and organized labor interests. Kevin has also taught at the University of Southern California as an Assistant Adjunct Professor and continues to lecture in the political science department and at the invitation of non-profit organizations.

From 2005-2008, Kevin served as Deputy Mayor for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Kevin managed a staff of over 20 professionals and an array of contract lobbying firms with the task of driving policy, legislative, regulatory and funding solutions in Washington DC, Sacramento, CA, with the County of Los Angeles, Cities and School Districts throughout the region. Kevin also led the Mayor’s budget and policy initiatives before the Los Angeles City Council and directed the Mayor’s Office of Protocol responsible with interfacing with over 100 foreign consulates stationed in the City of Los Angeles. Under Kevin’s leadership, the Mayor’s Intergovernmental and Legislative Relations unit was recognized as one of the outstanding team’s within the Villaraigosa administration.

From 2004 to 2005, Kevin launched KMA Strategies, Inc., a policy-political-communications strategy and business development firm with clients such as the California Democratic Party, Service Employees International Union, Local 434b, The Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Association, Enviro Board Corporation, and Bedrock Strategies, Inc.

From 2000 to 2004, Kevin worked as the Statewide Political Director for the California Democratic Party responsible for developing the Party’s strategic year-around political agenda that includes generating and implementing issue-oriented media events, interfacing with the state’s Democratic elected leadership and allied interest groups including organized labor, the environmental, senior and disabled movements, community-based organizations, the faith community, women’s organizations and communities of color. During general and special election cycles, Kevin would assume the duties of Director of the California Coordinated Campaign, the Democratic Party’s statewide campaign organization consisting of a budget of over $4 million, staff of over 100 employees and thousands of volunteers. Kevin’s work with the California Democratic Party continues to provide him access to many statewide, congressional, state legislative and local governmental Democratic elected leaders throughout California and the United States.

From 1994 to 2000, Kevin served as Assistant Chief of Staff to Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. While working for Supervisor Yaroslavsky, Kevin’s primary policy and budget responsibilities included oversight of the nation’s largest criminal justice system and elections operation, the state’s largest in-home supportive services authority serving over 100,000 seniors and caregivers, the County’s labor unions and local, state and federal intergovernmental issues. Kevin also chaired the Los Angeles County’s Citizen’s Commission on Redistricting.

From 1989 to 1994, Kevin owned KMA Associates, a political campaign and public affairs consulting firm. Kevin’s clients included: Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, State Senator Art Torres, Assembly Members Terry Friedman, Xavier Becerra, Barbara Friedman, Berman and D’Agostiono Campaigns, Congress Member Mel Levine, Waste Management, Inc. for The Target Group, and Monrovia Mayor Lara Larramendi Blakely. Kevin also served as a consultant in the 1990 reapportionment of the state congressional and legislative districts.

From 1981 to 1989, Kevin worked for Assembly Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr., as a Principal Legislative Consultant developing district-based legislation and communication initiatives for Members of the Assembly Democratic Caucus. Kevin also served as a political consultant to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee.

From 1978-1981 Kevin worked as a Budget and Program Planner for the United Way of Los Angeles, a Research Assistant for the White House Commission on the Review of the Federal Impact Aid Program and the Office for Civil Rights within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Kevin has served as the Chair of the Asian Pacific Caucus of the California Democratic Party, President of the Asian Pacific Democratic Club of Los Angeles and National Committee Member for the California Young Democrats. Kevin was also selected as a social work fellow under the auspices of the Asian American Mental Health Training Center in Los Angeles and interned at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Inc., a non-profit agency focused on Pilipino American youth issues and services.

Kevin graduated Cum Laude from the University of Southern California.