Gretchen Newsom, Speaker of the Assembly Appointee

Gretchen Newsom is a community leader and advocate of working families. As President of the Ocean Beach Town Council, she is working toward preserving and improving community resources and advocating for a sustainable local economy. Gretchen is also the Political Director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 and organizes efforts to invest in local good-paying, green-collar jobs, workforce development, civic engagement, and renewable energy.

Gretchen was previously employed by a social innovation firm that creates physically, socially, and economically sustainable communities. From 2009 to 2011, Gretchen served as Special Assistant to Chairman Phil Angelides of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, 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. Gretchen was centrally involved in producing the Commission’s final report, a New York Times and Washington Post best seller. Gretchen previously served as a Deputy Policy Director on a gubernatorial campaign, and conducted corporate research and drafted legislation while working at the California State Treasurer’s office.

Gretchen graduated Magna Cum Laude from Humboldt State University with a degree in Government and Politics, and was awarded with the “Woman of the Year” honor. Gretchen is a graduate of the prestigious California State Executive Fellowship Program. She lives in Ocean Beach with her family.