With a career in city governance spanning two decades, Jestin Johnson was the City of Oakland city administrator until 2026. During his term, Jestin Johnson was an integral part of shaping Oakland, California's quality of life.
As city administrator, Mr. Johnson not only oversaw government for the 440,000 residents, but he also was in charge of the Police, Fire, Parks & Recreation, Public Works, Planning, Department of Violence Prevention, and Office of Homeless Solutions, among others. In addition, he managed the city’s $2 billion-plus biennial budget, handling fiscal reporting across the Vital Services Stabilization Fund and other reserve funds.
Mr. Johnson’s role involved collaborating with other agencies on the development and implementation of Oakland’s three-year strategic plan. He also led the interagency coordination across the departments he oversaw.
Jestin Johnson’s accomplishments as city administrator include instituting a comprehensive fiscal stabilization strategy that reduced the city’s $360 million General Purpose Fund deficit. He also led the Finance Department and City Administrative team in successfully pricing $334 million in general obligation bonds allocated for affordable housing and capital infrastructure projects. Additionally, he led the interagency coordination between his office and the governor’s office in participating in the California Care Court Initiative and advanced legislative priorities among the Bay Area’s legislative delegation.
His credentials include a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University. Mr. Johnson resides in Oakland.