Bill de Blasio | Pat Quinn | Janet Cowell | Tom DiNapoli | Bill Lockyer | Rob McCord
Wendy Greuel | William Current, Sr. | John Marty | James Pilliod | Toni Pappas | Anna Johnson
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, New York City - CAPS Founder
On November 3, 2009, Bill de Blasio was elected New York City’s third Public Advocate. The New York City Public Advocate is the second highest citywide elected official and serves as a trustee for the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, which manages more than $30 billion in assets, one of the largest funds of its kind in the nation. Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has been pressuring corporations to reform their political spending practices in order to reduce the impact of the Citizens United decision. The Coalition for Accountability in Political Spending was created by New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
Bill de Blasio began his work in New York City government as an aide to Mayor David Dinkins. During the Clinton Administration, de Blasio was appointed Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he served under former Secretary Andrew Cuomo. In 1999, de Blasio was elected to the School Board for District 15 in Brooklyn. In 2000, he managed Hillary Rodham Clinton's successful campaign for U.S. Senate. The following year, de Blasio was elected to the New York City Council where he represented District 39 in Brooklyn for eight years.
Bill de Blasio holds a Bachelors degree from New York University and a Masters in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University. De Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, met while working together in the Dinkins Administration. They live in Brooklyn with their two children, Chiara and Dante.
Governor Pat Quinn, State of Illinois
On January 29, 2009, Pat Quinn was sworn in as the 41st Governor of the State of Illinois. Governor Quinn has served the people of Illinois for more than a quarter of a century - both as a citizen and a public official. He has organized grassroots petition drives signed by more than four million voters; walked across the state in support of decent healthcare for all; proposed historic tax reform for working families; increased consumer protections; and given Illinois’ residents a strong voice in government.
As Governor, Quinn has focused on restoring ethics to state government. Since taking office he has passed a constitutional amendment to allow recall of a Governor and signed into law the first ever limits on campaign contributions in Illinois.
Governor Quinn is an advocate for consumers, taxpayers, and servicemembers and their families. He has spearheaded countless initiatives that foster a cleaner environment and encourage economic development in historic business districts and rural communities. Governor Quinn has rallied residents to support the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, which he created in 2003 to support our servicemembers and veterans.
In 1976, Governor Quinn led the largest petition drive in state history, ending the century-old practice of allowing Illinois legislators to collect their entire salary on their first day in office. In 1980, he organized the Cutback Amendment to reduce the size of the Illinois General Assembly — the first and only Illinois constitutional amendment ever adopted by citizen initiative.
Governor Quinn was born in Hinsdale and graduated from Fenwick High School, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Northwestern University School of Law. He was elected commissioner of the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals in 1982, served as the City of Chicago's revenue director and was a member of a local school council. Governor Quinn has two sons.
State Treasurer Janet Cowell, North Carolina
Janet Cowell is the State Treasurer of North Carolina. Elected in 2008, she is the state’s 27th popularly-elected Treasurer and is the first woman to win the post. As the state’s fiscal advisor, Treasurer Cowell oversees more than $65 billion in pension fund investments, affecting 820,000 public employees including teachers, firefighters and other government employees. Cowell and her staff manage the issuance of several billion dollars of debt each year and help cities, towns and counties by monitoring their financial condition while providing professional technical assistance on audit and financial reporting.
Cowell is at the forefront of economic development in North Carolina, serving as chair of the State Banking Commission and on the boards of State Education and Community Colleges.
An investment professional, Cowell earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a Master’s degree in International Studies from the Lauder Institute. She worked as a financial analyst with HSBC Bank and Lehman Brothers before making her home in North Carolina.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York
Since first taking the position in February 2007, DiNapoli has transformed the way his office does business, instilling reforms to make government more effective, efficient and ethical. He has pushed for increased transparency and accountability in government, and identified billions of dollars in waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement.
DiNapoli, New York’s chief fiscal officer, is responsible for auditing the operations of all State agencies and local governments, managing the State’s pension fund, overseeing the New York State and Local Retirement System, reviewing the State and New York City budgets, approving State contracts, and administering the State’s payroll and central accounting system.
As sole trustee for the $146.9 billion State pension fund, one of the largest institutional investors in the world, DiNapoli has imposed tough new rules to prevent improper influence on investment decisions, and enhanced public disclosure. As the State’s fiscal watchdog, DiNapoli has emphasized that “every dime counts.” He has been an outspoken critic of fiscal gimmicks and other poor budget practices.
Previously, DiNapoli represented northwestern Nassau County in the State Assembly for 20 years. During his legislative career, he fought to restore fiscal responsibility in Nassau County, prevent fraud and mismanagement in school districts, and clean up the State’s water supply.
A lifelong resident of Nassau County, DiNapoli first gained recognition in 1972 when he was elected to the Mineola Board of Education at the age of 18, becoming the youngest person in New York State to hold public office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Hofstra University and a master’s degree in management and urban policy from The New School University. Prior to his election to the Assembly, DiNapoli was a manager in the telecommunications industry and served as an adjunct professor.
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, California
Bill Lockyer was elected on November 7, 2006 as California’s 32nd State Treasurer and re-elected on November 2, 2010. The Treasurer is the State’s banker. It’s a bank that processes trillions of dollars in transactions every year.
The Treasurer sells California’s bonds, invests its money and manages its cash. In addition, the Treasurer manages financing authorities that help provide good-paying jobs, better schools, improved transportation, quality health care, more affordable housing and a cleaner environment. And the Treasurer handles those duties while sitting on the governing boards of the nation’s two largest public pension funds – the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System.
Lockyer’s public service career has spanned more than three decades. From 1999-2006, he served as California Attorney General and fashioned one of the most impressive records of accomplishments in the office’s history. He created the nation’s most effective and sophisticated DNA forensic crime laboratory. He cracked down on Medi-Cal fraud, established the Megan’s Law website to track registered sex offenders, and recovered billions of dollars for defrauded energy ratepayers, consumers and taxpayers.
Prior to his election as Attorney General in 1998, Lockyer served 25 years in the California Legislature. He culminated his Capitol career as Senate President pro Tempore, crafting agreements to balance the state budget and make government work better for taxpayers.
Lockyer graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. Lockyer earned his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento while serving in the State Senate. He also received a teaching credential from California State University, Hayward. He is married to Nadia Maria Lockyer and has a daughter, Lisa, and a son, Diego.
State Treasurer Rob McCord, Pennsylvania
A respected business leader and entrepreneur, Rob McCord took office as the 45th Treasurer of Pennsylvania on January 20, 2009. Today, as chief executive of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, Treasurer McCord helps invest more than $80 billion per year, and he oversees a broad variety of operations designed to improve the economic security of Pennsylvanians. Treasurer McCord has brought unusual financial acumen to his elected office and works innovatively to provide strong financial returns for all Pennsylvanians.
Throughout his career, Treasurer McCord has fought for productive investments and public policies. Prior to his election as Treasurer, his work as a venture capitalist helped generate more than 2,000 jobs. From 1994 and 2007, Treasurer McCord worked as a senior executive at Safeguard Scientifics, and founded the Eastern Technology Fund and served as co-founder and Managing Director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners. In addition, from 1996 through 2007, he led the Eastern Technology Council, a trade association that served hundreds of fast-growing companies.
Before joining the private sector, Treasurer McCord worked on Capitol Hill, first as staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he specialized in budget and technology issues, and then as CEO of the Congressional Institute for the Future, a bipartisan think tank.
Treasurer McCord earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and he earned his undergraduate degree (with high honors) in history and economics from Harvard University. With his wife and two sons, Treasurer McCord lives in Montgomery County.
City Controller Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles
Wendy Greuel was sworn in as City Controller of Los Angeles on July 1, 2009, the second woman to be elected to a citywide office in the City’s history. As City Controller, Wendy ensures City Hall spends taxpayer dollars wisely and responsibly by identifying and eliminating wasteful spending, exposing fraud and abuse in city government and works to ensure an economic recovery and economic growth. Wendy believes in doing what is practical, not political, to get the job done and is focused on reforms that make the city more efficient and accountable.
Wendy brings to the Controller’s Office a unique combination of government, business and community leadership experience. Wendy is a lifelong Angeleno, who was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley and attended UCLA. Upon graduation, Wendy learned how to make things work for people at City Hall in the office of Mayor Bradley, where she was the mayor’s liaison to the City Council, City Departments and the community on public policy issues including child care, the homeless, the elderly, and health issues.
Representative William A. Current, Sr., North Carolina House of Representatives
William A. Current, Sr. is a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He has represented District 109 since 2005. Current received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Science degrees from the University of North Carolina. After completing dental school and a tour in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps, Dr. Current joined the family dental practice, which was founded in 1923. Running a private dental practice allowed Dr. Current to see first-hand the pressures on a small business owner.
Senator John Marty, Minnesota State Senate
John Marty has represented several northeast metro suburbs in the Minnesota Senate since 1987. Senator Marty distinguished himself immediately as an independent-minded progressive who is unafraid to take on special interests—even in his first term, he took on several of the most powerful lobbyists, including “big tobacco”, when he fought for legislation to prohibit smoking in schools and hospitals, banning free distribution of cigarettes and other “first in the nation” proposals.
Since then, Senator Marty has established himself as a leader on ethics issues at the Legislature and has continuously fought to remove special interest money from the political process. He has also been a consistent advocate for policies that promote fairness, equality and tolerance, as well as those that invest in prevention—investing in health care, schools, and jobs to build a better future and prevent problems before they start.
He is the designer and author of the Minnesota Health Plan, a single statewide plan that would cover every Minnesotan for all of their medical needs including prescription drugs, dental care, mental health and chemical dependency treatment, while saving money through prevention, efficiency, and elimination of bureaucracy.
John was co-chair of the Legislative Commission on Ending Poverty. Senator Marty’s interest and dedication to ethical, compassionate leadership started well before he was elected to the Minnesota Senate. He is the son of theologian and author Martin Marty and Elsa Marty who taught him the importance of service to others. John has a B.A. in Ethics and Society from St. Olaf College. John’s wife Connie works as an outreach worker and advocate at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. John and Connie live in Roseville and have two adult children.
Representative James Pilliod, New Hampshire House of Representatives
James Pilliod is a Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. He has represented the Belknap 5 District since 1996. Pilliod's professional experience includes physician in private practice, staff at Midland Michigan General Hospital and University Hospital, and naval officer in the United States Navy. Pilliod earned his BA from Yale University and MD from Duke University.
County Commissioner Toni Pappas, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
A former State Representative, Toni Pappas is currently serving her seventh term as a Hillsborough County Commissioner. Toni has served as President of the Manchester Historic Association and the Palace Theater board of trustees. She has been a trustee for the Norwin S. & Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation, vice chairman of the Greater Manchester YMCA, board director of the Swift Water Girl Scout Council and state commissioner on the NH Status of Women. Toni is a graduate of Rutgers University.
Charleston County Council Member Anna Johnson, Charleston County, SC
The Honorable Anna B. Johnson was elected to serve on Charleston County Council, District #8, in November 2010. As a council member, her goals include improving road and drainage, promoting economic development, preserving the charter of the Sea Islands and improving recreational opportunities.
Previously, Councilwoman Johnson served as Program Site Coordinator for the College of Charleston, Assistant Program Coordinator for the Charleston Area YWCA, Community Educator Worker for Charleston County Schools, Administrative Specialist for the Medical University of South Carolina, Administrative Specialist for the S. C. Department of Transportation and a Council member for the first Town of James Island.
Ms. Johnson obtained her education from Trident Technical College, the College of Charleston and the University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale.
