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Proposal for State Legislative Advocacy Services | City of Santa Ana Page 6
<br />EXPERIENCE
<br />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 1998-Present
<br />Christopher provides leadership to a team of 13 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 firms
<br />in California (and is continually recognized as a “top ten” firm registered with the California
<br />Secretary of State) while still providing the personalized attention and focus of a small
<br />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 and
<br />sanitation, transportation, housing and economic development, parks and natural resources,
<br />historical and cultural resources, elementary and secondary education, higher education, and
<br />public safety. The bipartisan capabilities of the firm are evidenced by legislative and funding
<br />successes over the tenure of several federal and state administrations, including: President
<br />Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Governors Pete Wilson,
<br />Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown, and Gavin Newsom.
<br />Christopher and his team have secured over $2.2 billion in local, regional, state, and federal
<br />government grants as well as private and nonprofit grants for a multitude of legacy projects in
<br />the policy sectors of water and sanitation, transportation, education, housing and economic
<br />development, parks and natural resources, historical and cultural resources, and public safety.
<br />Maintains close bi-partisan relationships with several members of the California
<br />Congressional delegation, including Senators Feinstein and Padilla, and Representatives
<br />Correa, Torres, Lowenthal, Porter, Levin, Lee, Swalwell, Napolitano, Garamendi, Carbajal,
<br />Desaulnier, Sanchez, Lieu, Harder, McNerney, Calvert, Garcia, Steel, and Kim.
<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 and
<br />economic development, parks and natural resources, and historical and cultural resources,
<br />including Propositions 1, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 12, 13, 14, 40, 47, 50, 55, 68 and 84. Most recently,
<br />Christopher worked closely with the State Legislature and the Governor’s office on the drafting
<br />of SB 5 (De Leon), which authorized a $4 billion park bond that was approved on the
<br />November 2018 statewide ballot as Proposition 68.
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