ADVOCATING FOR THE INDUSTRY
WITH SO MANY NEW LEGISLATORS ASSUMING OFFICE, AGC members and its advocates will have their work cut out to introduce the industry and policy issues facing the contractor community.
Incoming California Legislature Features Many New Faces
BY FELIPE FUENTES T
he November General election ush- ered in many new faces to the capitol community. With Democrats enjoying
supermajorities in both houses, the Legislature reconvened on Dec. 5 to begin the new 2023-24 session.
Te start of the new year also marks the first year of a new legislative session. Legislators will have until Feb. 17th to introduce legislation. With so many new legislators assuming
office, AGC members and its advocates will have their work cut out to introduce the industry and policy issues facing the contractor community. Below is a brief list and description of the in- coming members of the California Legislature.
SENATE Marie Alvarado-Gil (D), District 4 – In a strange turn of events, this Senate district which fa- vored Republicans by almost 4% will be held by a Democrat. After reapportionment this presumed safe Republican seat drew a slew of Republican candidates and two Democrats, Tim Robertson and Marie Alvarado-Gil. Republican voters ended up diluting their vote amongst six GOP candidates, allowing the general election contest to be settled by the top vote getters, both Democrats. Alvarado-Gil is a charter school administrator. Expect Republicans to attempt a recall after the dust settles. Roger Niello (R), District 6 – Niello easily won this seat in a Republican district. No stranger to the capitol, Niello served in the state Assembly from 2004-2010. A former Sacramento County supervisor, Niello has been in active in the Sac- ramento metropolitan area as the president of its Chamber of Commerce and as an integral part of the family automotive business. Angelique Ashby (D), District 8 – In what proved to be one of the most expensive cam-
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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
paigns in the state, former Assembly member and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones was defeated by three-term Sacramento Council- woman Ashby. Ashby was supported by the business community. Aisha Wahab (D), District 10 – Hayward City Councilmember Wahab was first elected in November 2018. As one of the first Afghan Americans elected to office, Wahab current works for Santa Clara County as an informa- tion technology analyst. She earned a political science degree from San Jose State University and an MBA from CSU-East Bay. Steve Padilla (D), District 18 – As the current chairman of the California Coastal Commis- sion, Padilla recently served as a member of the Chula Vista City Council and as its mayor. A former Coronado police officer and detec- tive, Padilla was the first elected official to be diagnosed with Covid-19 and spent 11 days on a ventilator in a medically induced coma. Caroline Menjivar (D), District 20 – A field representative for LA Mayor Garcetti, Menjivar served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2009- 2016. Menjivar earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from CSU Northridge and a MSW from UCLA. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D), District 28 – A project director at UCLA’s Labor Center, Smallwood-Cuevas is a founding director of the LA Black Worker Center. Having begun her career in journalism, she also worked as a community organizer for SEIU. Catherine Blakespear (D), District 38 – Blakespear has served the City of Encinitas as a member of the Council and as its mayor. Having begun her career as a reporter for the Associated Press andLos Angeles Times, Blake- spear earned a law degree and practiced as an estate planning attorney since 2009.
ASSEMBLY Joe Patterson (R), District 5 – Most recently serving the Rocklin City Council, Patterson served as an Assembly Fellow and GOP staffer until 2011. He also has served as the executive director of the California Gaming Association and is well-versed in public policy. Stephanie Nguyen (D), District 10 – Nguyen was first appointed to the Elk Grove City Council in 2017 and later elected to a full term in 2018. She has served as the executive director at two notable nonprofits, Asian Resources Inc. and the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber Foundation. Damon Connolly (D), District 12 – Most re- cently a Marin County Supervisor, Connolly has also served as a City Councilmember for the City of San Rafael. Connolly is an attorney who owns and operates his own legal practice. Liz Ortega (D), District 20 – Ortega served as the executive secretary of the Alameda Labor Council. She previously worked for AFSCME 3299 as their statewide political director. Diane Pappan (D), District 21 – Te daughter of Assemblymember Pappan, she most re- cently served on the San Mateo City Council. Pappan has been a self-employed attorney and maintains her own practice. Juan Alanis, (R), District 22 – Alanis is a deputy sheriff with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s office. Esmeralda Soria (D), District 27 – Most recently Soria served on the Fresno City Council. She has worked for the California Attorney General’s office and the California State Senate as a legislative aide. She earned a law degree from UC Davis and is an adjunct professor at Fresno City College. Gail Pellerin (D), District 28 – Pellerin is a self-employed elections consultant who served as Santa Cruz’ County clerk for 27 years. She also worked in the Assembly’s political arm, Speaker’s Office of Majority Services, from 1985 to 1992.
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