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Christopher Townsend, President: Christopher founded TPA in 1998 and
<br />has 40 years of experience in public affairs, legislative advocacy, and grant
<br />writing. Christopher and TPA have represented over 315 clients, including
<br />235 local public agencies, such as cities, counties, transportation agencies,
<br />water and sanitation districts, elementary and secondary school districts,
<br />community college districts, park and recreation districts, and other special
<br />districts, as well as nonprofit organizations.
<br />Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
<br />President
<br />1998-Present
<br />Christopher provides leadership to a team of 12 advocates and grant writers while managing the
<br />development and implementation of strategies for the agendas of each client. His achievements
<br />include:
<br />• Under Christopher's leadership, TPA has become one of the most successful advocacy
<br />firms in California (and is continually recognized as a "top ten" firm registered with the
<br />California Secretary of State) while still providing the personalized attention and focus of
<br />a small boutique firm.
<br />Under Christopher's leadership, TPA has shepherded over 100 legislative and regulatory
<br />proposals into law over a wide range of policy areas, including local governance, water
<br />and sanitation, transportation, housing and economic development, parks and natural
<br />resources, historical and cultural resources, elementary and secondary education, higher
<br />education, and public safety. The bipartisan capabilities of the firm are evidenced by
<br />legislative and funding successes over the tenure of several federal and state
<br />administrations, including: President Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald
<br />Trump, and Governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown,
<br />and Gavin Newsom.
<br />• Christopher and his team have secured over $1.8 billion in local, regional, state, and
<br />federal government grants as well as private and nonprofit grants for a multitude of legacy
<br />projects in the policy sectors of water and sanitation, transportation, education, housing
<br />and economic development, parks and natural resources, historical and cultural
<br />resources, and public safety.
<br />Christopher and TPA have participated in the development and implementation of several
<br />California bond propositions for the statewide ballot to provide capital funding for major
<br />infrastructure projects, including water and sanitation, transportation, education, housing
<br />and economic development, parks and natural resources, and historical and cultural
<br />resources, including Propositions 1, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 12, 13, 14, 40, 47, 50, 55, 68 and 84.
<br />Most recently, Christopher worked closely with the State Legislature and the Governor's
<br />office on the drafting of SB 5 (De Leon), which authorized a $4 billion park bond that was
<br />approved on the November 2018 statewide ballot as Proposition 68.
<br />In 1999, Christopher was appointed by Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa to serve
<br />on the Speaker's Commission on State and Local Government Finance.
<br />• In 1997, Christopher was appointed by Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante to serve on
<br />the California Film Commission.
<br />© Statement of Qualifications for State Legislative Advocacy Services I City of Santa Ana Page 7
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