Hahn, James Kenneth, 1951–, American politician. Born into a Los Angeles political family, he is a Democratic lawyer who first served in city government (1981–85) as controller. As city attorney (1985–2001), he established gang and domestic violence units and worked to prosecute violators in such areas as housing, elder abuse, gun and tobacco control, consumer fraud, and environmental crimes. Hahn was elected mayor in 2001 after the retirement of Richard J. Riordan, but he failed in his 2005 reelection bid, losing to Antonio Villaraigosa.
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