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Joe’s staff alumni

County Supervisor (2013 - Present)

  • Avana Andrade is currently Sustainability Coordinator for the County of San Mateo.
  • Charlsie Chang worked primarily on communications and outreach from 2019 into early 2021. Her work took on new importance as the County grappled with the response to COVID-19. She is currently working for San Mateo County Transit District as Government & Community Affairs Officer.
  • Elizabeth Cuesta served as Office Manager for Joe throughout Joe's tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from 1997-2000. She then served as Office Manager for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss. Elizabeth joined Joe's office in 2012 and retired in September 2013 after 20+ years of service to Santa Clara County.
  • Sarah Flamm is currently Water Administration and Policy Manager for Inverness Public Utility District.
  • Micaela Hellman-Tincher served as Policy Director for Supervisor Simitian until August 2021. She worked on Housing, Social Services, Non-Profits, Behavioral Health, Seniors and Immigration. Previously she worked for non-profits in San Francisco and Rwanda, and before that she worked in advocacy in Washington, DC. Micaela has an MA in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, and a BA in Economics and International Relations from George Washington University. She is currently a Housing Specialist at Good City Company. 
  • Candace (Joy) Cotton staffed Supervisor Simitian going back to his days in the California State Legislature. She worked on a wide array of subjects including women’s issues, LGTBQ+ affairs, the arts, and environmental sustainability and conservation.  She is devoted to good governance and previously worked with the California Ethics and Democracy Project as a consultant. She left the Simitian Office to relocate with her family to a new home outside the Bay Area. She is currently Legislative Aide for Assemblymember Steve Bennett.
  • Ellen Kamei works as External Affairs Area Manager for AT&T and was formerly a two-term environmental planning commissioner in Mountain View.  She was first elected to the Mountain View City Council in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. 
  • Jamie Livingston worked primarily on communications and outreach from 2019 to 2021. She worked on media relations, wrote press releases, organized in-person outreach events like sidewalk office hours, and when COVID hit took on the monthly COVID telephone town halls. She also helped grow the Supervisor’s social media presence. Now works at the International Atomic Energy Agency as Associate Climate Change Advocacy and Outreach Officer.
  • Kristina Loquist retired from public service the summer of 2023 after 17 years with the Simitian office, serving at both the State of California and County of Santa Clara as Chief of Staff and as a policy aide primarily working on housing and land use issues. Prior to working with Supervisor Simitian, Kristina worked at the State of California doing budgets and finance with the Department of General Services and recycling market development work at the Integrated Waste Management Board. She currently serves on the Santa Clara County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
  • Christine Prior served as policy aide and scheduler for Supervisor Simitian until August 2023. She held a portfolio including parks and open space, environment and Habitat Agency, and staff the Federal Affairs Advocacy Task Force. She is now with the City of Palo Alto as Deputy City Clerk.
  • Khalida Sarwari served as a press, outreach and policy aide from August 2021 to October 2024. She staffed Supervisor Simitian on child and youth welfare and education policy. 
  • Paige Sanks most recently served as a member of the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula and served as an Aide for Supervisor Simitian from 2014 to 2017. 
  • Matt Savage was the Supervisor’s healthcare policy aide from 2019 to 2023.  In addition to covering healthcare policy during the height of the pandemic, he also served as a liaison to the San Jose community and with the County’s labor partners.  He is currently working at the County Department of Public Health, where is the Program Manager for Substance Use Prevention.

State Senate (2004 - 2012)

  • Terry Adams served as Scheduler during Joe’s first term in the Senate. Currently, Terry produces specialty programming for SiriusXM. In addition, she serves as a free-lance producer and teleprompter operator for live studio webcasts at Stanford University.
  • Hank Brady is Director, Office of Governmental Affairs at the California Public Utilities Commission. Previously, he was the SB 1383 Manager for the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where he oversaw CalRecycle’s efforts to achieve California’s ambitious organic waste recycling targets. Before Joining CalRecycle, he served as a legislative aide in the offices of Assemblymember Marc Levine and Senator Simitian.
  • Sabra (Foley) Diridon served as Senior Field Representative for Joe during his tenure in the California State Assembly and in the California State Senate. She is currently Executive Director for Development at San Jose State University. She has also served as the Northern California Deputy Finance Director for a presidential campaign.
  • Melissa Figueroa served as Press Secretary for Senator Simitian from 2009-2011 in his Capitol office. During her time in the Legislature, she also staffed the Senator on veterans’ affairs and human services issues. Melissa now serves as the Chief of Strategic Communications at the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
  • Rose Filicetti served as Senior Field Representative in Senator Simitian’s Santa Cruz Office from 2011-12. She continues part-time work as Founder and Executive Director of Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz County and in leadership or governance roles for a variety of community service/fundraising nonprofits, including Digital NEST (technology access and workforce development for local youth) and UCSC Dreamweavers (support for Dream Act undocumented immigrant students).
  • Lisa Gardiner worked as Joe's press secretary during his last year in the State Senate. She is currently Director of Government Affairs at County Behavioral Health Directors Association.
  • Taylor Glass served as a Legislative Aide during Joe's tenure in the Senate from 2009-2012. He is now an Attorney at the Computerlaw Group LLP. Previously he was Legislative Director for State Senator Scott Weiner and was also Consultant for Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra where he handled natural resources, water, transportation, environmental quality and housing policy. Taylor holds a J.D. from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.
  • Heather (Barbour) Gonzalez served as a Committee Consultant and Legislative Aide for Joe during his first term in the State Senate. She worked primarily on education and privacy issues. She has also worked as a Specialist in Science and Technology Policy at the Congressional Research Service and is currently a policy analyst in the Bay Area.
  • Alan Gordon is Senior Consultant for Climate Bonds Initiative. Formerly, he served as Deputy Treasurer for Infrastructure Finance and Legislation with California State Treasurer. Prior positions include 25 years teaching environmental policy at the University of California and more than 20 years on the staff at the California Senate with expertise in water, energy, and timber policy. Primary staff author of Delta Stewardship Act, a rewrite of California water policy.
  • Matt Haney was a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2005-2006 session. After his fellowship, Matt was awarded a George J. Mitchell Scholarship, through which he studied international human rights in Ireland. In 2008, he was a youth and student organizer for a presidential campaign, and he co-founded a non-profit. In 2010 Matt graduated with a JD and MA in Education from Stanford University’s School of Law. After serving as a City and County of San Francisco Supervisor, he now serves in the California State Assembly representing eastern San Francsico.
  • Stephanie Hineline served as Joe’s Scheduler from 2010-2012. She also served in the Senate Office of Research working as the Liaison between SOR and the Governors Appointments Office in the Senate.
  • Cory Jasperson served as Principal Consultant and later Chief of Staff at the end of Joe’s tenure in the California State Senate. He also served as a Policy Aide during Joe’s first term on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and as a Legislative Aide during Joe’s time in the California State Assembly. He currently serves as Director of Governmental Affairs for the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts.
  • Jaspreet Johl served as Office Aide and Capitol Constituent Liaison for Joe during tenure in the California State Assembly and in the California State Senate. Jaspreet earned a J.D. from University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law and currently serves as Chief of Staff in the California State Assembly.
  • Nina Kapoor was a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2006-2007 session. After her fellowship, Nina worked in the office of Assembly member Felipe Fuentes on energy policy issues. In early 2010 she joined KP Public Affairs as a lobbyist to work with clients in the energy, transportation, and environmental arenas, and later served as VP of Legislative Affairs for the California Forestry Association. She serves as Director of State Government Affairs for the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas.
  • Susan Klein served as Office Manager during Joe's last term in the Senate, 2007-2012. Susan is currently retired.
  • Kris Kuzmich served as Principal Consultant to the Senate Select Committee on Privacy during Joe’s second term in the State Senate. She also worked for the Senate’s Budget Committee.
  • Michele Lew served as District Director during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Currently, she is Senior Vice President and Chief Government Relations Officer for Stanford Children’s Health. She was previously CEO of the Health Trust in San Jose, and before that President and CEO of Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), the largest community-based organization serving the Asian American community in Santa Clara County.
  • William Leiter was a Senate Fellow and then a Legislative Aide in Joe's office during the 2010-2012 session. He then worked as a digital strategist for Trilogy Interactive, where he managed online campaigns for U.S. senators and the CA Democratic Party, and later served as the deputy digital director for FWD.us, a non-profit advocating for the tech community. He is currently Senior Growth Product Lead at Shopify. 
  • Nancy Lynott served as Scheduler in Joe’s Capitol office during his second State Senate term. She is now retired.
  • Maureen McCarty served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Senate. She is currently working as District Director for Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.
  • Shannon McKinney served as Legislative Aide for Joe during his tenure in the California State Senate. She is currently Senior Committee Consultant to the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.
  • Jennifer Moreno served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2009-2010 session. Jennifer worked as a legislative aide in the office of Assemblymember Betsy Butler, focusing on Education as well as Arts and Entertainment, and now is an Education Program Consultant for the California Department of Education.
  • Caroll Mortensen is semi-retired, formerly serving as Director of CalRecycle.
  • Ryan Ojakian is currently Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Program Manager for Regional Water Authority. He previously served as Senior Consultant for the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Ryan has previously served as Legislative Director for Assembly Member Marc Levine and Legislative Aide in Joe’s office.
  • Rei Onishi served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2004-2005 session, then as a Legislative Aide in 2005-2006. He spent time studying and working in Japan, Liberia and Washington D.C., and finished a joint degree from Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2011. He clerked for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta and later became a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice. He was appointed to the 2015-2016 class of White House Fellows in 2015. He currently is a Judge for the Sacramento County Superior Court.
  • Priscilla Ouchida served as Chief of Staff during Joe’s tenure in the Assembly, then as Legislative Director during his first term in the Senate. She is currently President and CEO of Nikkei Environmental LLC.
  • Anand Parikh served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2008-2009 session. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and NYU Law School and clerked for Chief Judge Gerald Rosen at the Eastern District of Michigan. He was previously Head of Finance, General Counsel, Head of PeopleOps and Corporate Secretary of Virta Health in San Francisco. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of Faeth Therapeutics.
  • Annette Porini is a former Chief of Staff to Senator Simitian. She has worked for the State Senate and Assembly as well as the State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Governor. Prior to joining the Simitian Staff, she was the Staff Director to the Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.
  • Sarah Rosendahl served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s first Senate term. She has worked as a Legislative Aide for San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley and is currently a Board Member at the California CASA Association, focused on the state's foster care system.
  • Anthony Sanchez served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2007-2008 session. Since his fellowship, Anthony has worked on several political campaigns in the Bay Area and worked for the Berkeley City Council. He is currently the Founder of Kite and Dart Solutions working on fraud and risk pattern advising.
  • Heather Scott
  • Kristin Stauffacher served as Joe’s Legislative Director from 2008 to 2011. She served as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency, and as Appointments Advisor at the office of Governor Brown. She is currently Deputy Executive Director of the California Public Utilities Commission.
  • Brenda Taussig served as Senior Field Representative in Joe's District Office in Palo Alto during his second term in the Senate. She served as Government and Community Relations Director at El Camino Health until January 2020. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Center of Age Friendly Excellence.
  • Michelle Thomas served as Office manager, Scheduler and Legislative Assistant in Joe’s Sacramento office from 2006-2008. She received a Masters in Public Administration with an option in public policy at CSU East Bay. She worked as a district representative for State Senator Ellen Corbett, and the former Legislative Director and current Policy Director for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. She is currently Senior manager of Government Affairs for Comcast.
  • Renee Wadsworth served as an Office Aide in Joe’s Sacramento office during the 2005-2006 session. She has since worked at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, DC, as Manager of State Relations.
  • Marisol Wauters served as Office Manager for Joe during his tenure in the California State Senate. In June 2009, she graduated with a Masters in Urban Planning. She has since served as Senior Client Services Coordinator for Colliers International.
  • Carlee Weiss served as Office Manager in the Palo Alto District Office during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. She is currently retired, though she keeps busy with interior design work and travel.
  • Brock Winstead was a Field Representative and later District Director during Joe's time in the California State Senate. Brock is currently a Software Developer at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP. 
  • Keith Weissglass served as a Field Representative during Joe’s second term in the State Senate. His responsibilities included district media relations, online communication, and constituent outreach. Keith later received an M.B.A. from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, where he teaches part-time. He has worked at Gartner Consulting, where he advised state and local government agencies, and later had lead marketing roles at various technology startups. He is currently Director of Operations at Constellation and Founder of Effective Finance.
  • Phil Yost served as Press Liaison in the District Office from June 2010 until the end of Joe's second Senate term in December 2012.
  • Sarah (Mason) Z’berg served as Scheduler, Legislative Aide, and Press Liaison in the Capitol Office during Joe’s first term in the California State Senate. She currently works for the Senate Business and Professions Committee.

State Assembly (2000 - 2004)

  • Karen Brunton Bloom served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly. After leaving the office in 2004, Karen worked as a Policy Analyst for the Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, graduated law school at University of Washington in Seattle, and managed an Alaska State House campaign. Karen is currently Senior Corporate Counsel at Amazon in Seattle.
  • Megan Swezey Fogarty served as Nonprofits Liaison from 2001-2003, and hosted Joe’s television show, Capitol Focus. She is currently Senior Associate Vice President for Community Engagement at Stanford University. 
  • Judy Kramer served as Nonprofits Liaison during Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and during the early part of his tenure in the California State Assembly. She is currently retired, but remains active as a community volunteer. 
  • Jamille Moens served as Policy Aide and later as Press Secretary during Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She also served as Legislative Aide and Press Secretary during his tenure in the California State Assembly. She has served as Business & Integrated Planning Division Manager for the City of Sacramento and Director of Administrative Services for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. She is now retired.
  • Lark Park served as Legislative Aide during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  Lark transferred to the Office of Senator Gloria Romero in 2005, and then worked for the Senate Human Services Committee.  She was a senior policy advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown and worked as his deputy legislative affairs secretary.  She is currently a Regent for the University of California. 
  • Daryl Savage served as Executive Assistant during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  She was formerly Chair of the City of Palo Alto Human Relations Commission, Communication Director for the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, and Press Director for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss. 
  • Deanna Sessums served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Regional Public Affairs Manager for the League of California Cities, Monterey Bay Division.  Deanna completed an MPA degree at San Jose State.
  • Andrew Silverman served as an Assembly Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2002-2003 session. Andrew subsequently graduated from USC’s law school, passed the California State Bar, and was an attorney assigned to the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He is now a partner at Orrick, and a member of the firm's Supreme Court and Appellate Group, based in New York.  
  • Preston Taylor was an Assembly Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2001-2002 session. He subsequently served as a Legislative Aide and as a Senior Assistant, working in both the Capitol and District Offices.  After leaving the office, Preston earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and worked in China and India. He worked as Worldwide Product Marketing Manager for Lenovo, Director of Product Management at Tyler Technologies, and currently is Director of Product Management, Premier Agent at Zillow.
  • Dena Wilson served as Scheduler and Legislative Aide on aging issues during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly. After leaving the office in 2004, Dena worked as an Associate Consultant in the Speaker’s office, then as an Associate Consultant in Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero’s office. She later became a Policy Analyst in the Secretary of Education’s office, and currently is State Operations Center Deputy Director for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (1997 - 2000)

  • John Brazil served as Land Use & Transportation Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He currently serves as Transportation Options Program Manager for the City of San Jose. 
  • Amy Carta served as Health Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She is currently the Assistant Director for the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System. 
  • Joyce Iwasaki served as Executive Assistant for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She is now Director, Government Affairs, Public Relations, and Special Projects at the County of Santa Clara Health System. 
  • Seth Masket, Ph.D. served as Law and Justice Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Denver where he serves as Director of the Center of American Politics. 
  • Cathryn Hyde served as Senior Policy Aide for Land Use, Housing, and Transportation for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She served as Constituent Services Director for US Representative Michael M. Honda and is now Director of Policy and External Relations for the Community Health Partnership. 
  • Paul Murphy served as Health Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Later he became Policy Director for Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, District Two. Paul also served as a Senior Policy Analyst for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss, and President of the Horace Mann School Foundation in San Jose. Paul previously worked for the Santa Clara Family Health Plan, the Harvey M. Rose Accountancy Corporation and served as Whistleblower Program Manager for the County of Stana Clara. He currently is Program Manager for the Valley Health Foundation. 
  • Michelle Poche Flaherty served as Joe’s Chief of Staff during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She went on to serve as a Regional Director for the California Trade & Commerce Agency and Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta before returning to local government as Assistant County Manager in Washoe County, Nevada. She previously served as the Organizational Development Manager for the City of Rockville, Maryland, as the President of City on a Hill Consulting, and as Deputy City Manager for the City of Palo Alto. She currently serves as Assistant City Manager for Redwood City.
  • Samantha Spielman served as Policy Aide for Children, Family and Education during Joe’s first year on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She went on to serve as the Political Director for Northern California AIPAC and then as the Director of Project Management for the Creative Department of macys.com. She is currently working in Project Management at CloudBase Services in addition to serving as Senior Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff at Oakland Unified School District. 
  • Susie Thom served as Scheduler for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She was Director of Human Resources at Entech Analytical Labs, Inc. and formerly Administrative Director for the 2009 Senior Games. She was a member of the City of Palo Alto Library Advisory Commission, and later became President of the library's foundation.

Last updated on July 2024.