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State of the State

December 12, 2023 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Register

Join us to hear from experts on how policy and politics in Sacramento impact businesses on the Central Coast.

With nearly one-third of California’s State Legislature new to Sacramento and increased vitriol between parties at the national level, there is a lot to think about when looking ahead to the upcoming year. Join us for this year’s State of the State, where Senator John Laird and veteran journalist and co-founder of CalMatters, David Lesher, will share insight on major national, state and regional issues, including housing, inflation, homelessness, small business support, Diablo Canyon Power Plant and more.

Register now to secure your spot and hear from your elected officials as they reflect on 2023, brief us on major policy changes that could be implemented in 2024, and share the story of the politics around policy.

FEATURING

Senator John Laird

John Laird was elected to the State Senate in 2020 to represent Senate District 17. He chairs and serves on a broad array of committees including the Budget & Fiscal Review Subcommittee 1 on Education, the Labor, Public Employment & Retirement Committee, and the Natural Resources & Water Committee. Prior to his Senate service, he served as Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, a member of the State Integrated Waste Management Board, and nine years on the Santa Cruz City Council, twice as mayor.

David Lesher is a veteran journalist and state policy expert. He co-founded CalMatters, a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization that works to hold state leaders accountable and brings Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues. Previously, he was Director of Government Affairs at the Public Policy Institute of California. Lesher has more than 25 years of journalism experience, largely at the Los Angeles Times where he was a political writer, State Capitol reporter and assistant national editor for presidential campaigns.

MODERATED BY

Christine Robertson

Christine Robertson spent nearly a decade working in Sacramento, holding senior staff positions in California’s State Capitol including Chief of Staff to the Assembly Minority Caucus, Chief of Staff in the California State Senate and Chief of Staff in the California State Assembly. She co-founded and led the Institute for Advanced Technology & Public Policy at Cal Poly, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation.

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

glenn burdette

  morris and garritano

Details

  • Date: December 12, 2023
  • Time:
    3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
  • Event Category:

Venue

  • Embassy Suites
  • 333 Madonna Road
    San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 United States     + Google Map
  • Phone (805) 781-2777

Join us to hear from experts on how policy and politics in Sacramento impact businesses on the Central Coast.

With nearly one-third of California’s State Legislature new to Sacramento and increased vitriol between parties at the national level, there is a lot to think about when looking ahead to the upcoming year. Join us for this year’s State of the State, where Senator John Laird and veteran journalist and co-founder of CalMatters, David Lesher, will share insight on major national, state and regional issues, including housing, inflation, homelessness, small business support, Diablo Canyon Power Plant and more.

Register now to secure your spot and hear from your elected officials as they reflect on 2023, brief us on major policy changes that could be implemented in 2024, and share the story of the politics around policy.

FEATURING

Senator John Laird

John Laird was elected to the State Senate in 2020 to represent Senate District 17. He chairs and serves on a broad array of committees including the Budget & Fiscal Review Subcommittee 1 on Education, the Labor, Public Employment & Retirement Committee, and the Natural Resources & Water Committee. Prior to his Senate service, he served as Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, a member of the State Integrated Waste Management Board, and nine years on the Santa Cruz City Council, twice as mayor.

David Lesher is a veteran journalist and state policy expert. He co-founded CalMatters, a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization that works to hold state leaders accountable and brings Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues. Previously, he was Director of Government Affairs at the Public Policy Institute of California. Lesher has more than 25 years of journalism experience, largely at the Los Angeles Times where he was a political writer, State Capitol reporter and assistant national editor for presidential campaigns.

MODERATED BY

Christine Robertson

Christine Robertson spent nearly a decade working in Sacramento, holding senior staff positions in California’s State Capitol including Chief of Staff to the Assembly Minority Caucus, Chief of Staff in the California State Senate and Chief of Staff in the California State Assembly. She co-founded and led the Institute for Advanced Technology & Public Policy at Cal Poly, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation.

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

glenn burdette

  morris and garritano