WTS-Sacramento February Program:

Carrie Cornwell and Janet Dawson Talk Transportation!

We are pleased to welcome Carrie Cornwell, Chief Consultant to the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee, and Janet Dawson, Chief Consultant to the Assembly Transportation Committee, as our program speakers on Wednesday, February 19, 2014!

Ms. Cornwell and Ms. Dawson are the primary advisors to standing committees of the California legislature that evaluate transportation policy issues and recommend courses of action on transportation-related legislation. The 2013-2014 legislative session is addressing a variety of transportation policy areas from planning and funding to the environmental analysis, design, and delivery of transportation projects. Ms. Cornwell and Ms. Dawson will provide an update on recent transportation legislation as well as explain their roles in the legislative process and look ahead to what’s in store for their committees this year. 

Carrie Cornwell serves as Chief Consultant to the Transportation and Housing Committee of the California State Senate. A position she has held since March 2005. Immediately prior to her current position, Ms. Cornwell was the Deputy Treasurer for Public Finance and Legislation to California State Treasurer Phil Angelides. From 2000 through 2004, Ms. Cornwell served as Capitol Chief of Staff to California State Senator Tom Torlakson, who represented most of Contra Costa County. She served in the same capacity for Mr. Torlakson during his four years in the California State Assembly. She began her career in the Capitol as an Assembly Fellow.

Ms. Cornwell’s policy expertise includes transportation, housing, economic development, redevelopment, and land use. She has served as Chief Consultant to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee and as Chief Consultant to the Assembly Transportation Committee. Outside the Capitol, Ms. Cornwell has been an adjunct professor of economics at Sacramento City College and at Sierra College. She also chaired the Sacramento County Project Planning Commission.

Ms. Cornwell earned a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from UCLA and Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.

Janet Dawson is the Chief Consultant for the Assembly Transportation Committee, a standing committee of the State Assembly.  The committee is responsible for monitoring ongoing governmental operations, identifying issues suitable for legislative review, gathering and evaluating information, and recommending courses of action on transportation-related legislation.  The committee has responsibility for overseeing the work of Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the High-Speed Rail Authority, Office of Traffic Safety, and other agencies.

Prior to joining the Assembly, Ms. Dawson spent 16 years as a legislative representative for Caltrans.  In 2001, Ms. Dawson was appointed by then-Governor Davis to the position of Caltrans Legislative Director.  She served in that position well into the Schwarzenegger Administration until leaving to join the Assembly in 2007. 

Ms. Dawson has a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the California State University, Sacramento.

COST: Free for WTS Members, $15 for Non-Members. 

Payment due by cash, check, or credit card at the door.  There is a $0.50 surcharge for every $15 credit card transaction.

Note:  All no-shows will be charged $15.

RSVP by Monday, February 17, 2014.