Gretchen Newsom, Speaker of the Assembly Appointee

She is an International Representative for the Ninth District of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), specializing in labor relations, government affairs, and community advocacy. Gretchen previously served as the Political Director for IBEW Local Union 569, a prominent and progressive labor union committed to investing in good-paying, green-collar jobs, workforce development, civic engagement, and renewable energy. Additionally, she serves as the IBEW California State Political Coordinator.

Gretchen is the senior member of the California Employment Training Panel, serves as an alternate commissioner on the California Coastal Commission, chairs the Audit Committee for the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, and is a member of the San Diego Convention Center Board of Directors. Additionally, she serves on the San Diego Chapter of the American Lung Association and is President Emeritus of the Ocean Beach Town Council.

She has demonstrated tenacious success in devising and implementing complex strategies that have created long lasting and significant changes, including efforts undertaken to turn San Diego ‘red to blue’ at City and County levels and change leadership and direction at key regional agencies such as SANDAG and MTS. The concerns of working men and women and their families are now at the forefront of local politics where before they were an afterthought. She specializes in coalition building, civic engagement, and political advocacy – and facilitated the successful adoption of the nation’s second largest Project Labor Agreement- at SANDAG, valued at $163 billion.

She was previously employed by a social innovation firm that assists clients with creating physically, socially, and economically sustainable communities. In her role as Principal and Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Gretchen conducted research and analysis of policy initiatives, and tracked legislation connected to community development, environmental policies, affordable housing, homelessness, federal and state budgets, and new funding opportunities.

From 2009 to 2011, Gretchen served as Special Assistant to Chairman Phil Angelides of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC), a bipartisan body charged with conducting the nation’s official inquiry into the causes of the financial and economic crisis and reporting its findings to the President, Congress, and the American people. She was centrally involved in producing the Commission’s final report, which became a New York Times best seller and was hailed as “the most comprehensive indictment of the American financial failure” and “the definitive history of this period.” After the release of the report, Gretchen organized and executed an international book tour and interfaced with the European Parliament on the presentation of this U.S. report.

She also previously worked with Mr. Angelides on a partnership with Magic Johnson and Canyon Partners on the creation of affordable rental housing in urban areas, and starting a real estate investment firm focused on urban in-fill, smart growth developments, and clean energy projects.

Gretchen graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cal Poly Humboldt with a degree in Government and Politics, and was awarded with the “Woman of the Year” honor. Gretchen is also a graduate of the prestigious California State Executive Fellowship Program.

She lives in San Diego, California with her son.