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Simitian Alumni Directory

The directory below contains current employment and contact information for many former Simitian staff members.  You’ll find each staff member listed alphabetically under the public office (Supervisor, Assembly, Senate) in which they worked. 

Former staff members who worked in more than one office are listed by most recent position.

State Senate (2004-present)

  • Terry Adams served as Scheduler during Joe’s first term in the Senate.  Recently, Terry has been working in Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office and producing weekend programming for bay area radio stations.  Terry may be reached at (415) 244-7731.
  • Heather (Barbour) Gonzalez served as a committee consultant and legislative aide for Joe during his first term in the State Senate.  She worked primarily on education and privacy issues.
  • Sabra Foley served as Senior Field Representative for Joe during his tenure in the California State Assembly and in the California State Senate.  Most recently, she was the Northern California Deputy Finance Director for a presidential campaign. 
  • Matt Haney was a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2005-2006 session.  After his fellowship, Matt was awarded a George J. Mitchell Scholarship, through which he studied international human rights in Ireland.  In 2008, he was a youth and student organizer for a presidential campaign, and he recently co-founded a non-profit.  Matt is currently a student at Stanford University’s School of Law and School of Education.  He may be reached at (626) 808-2027.
  • Jaspreet Johl served as Office Aide and Capitol Constituent Liaison for Joe during his tenure in the California State Assembly and in the California State Senate.  She is currently attending the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. 
  • Nina Kapoor was a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2006-2007 session.  After her fellowship, Nina secured a position in the office of Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes, where she currently works on energy policy issues.  She may be reached at (916) 319-2039.
  • Kris Kuzmich served as Principal Consultant to the Senate Select Committee on Privacy during Joe’s second term in the State Senate. She now works for the Senate’s Budget Committee.
  • Michele Lew served as District Director during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. She is currently President and CEO of Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), the largest community-based organization serving the Asian American community in Santa Clara County.  Michele may be reached at (408) 975-2730.
  • Nancy Lynott served as scheduler in Joe’s Capitol office during his second State Senate term. She is now retired.
  • Shannon McKinney served as Legislative Aide for Joe during his tenure in the California State Senate.  She is currently Senior Consultant to the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  Shannon may be reached at (916) 319-3965.
  • Rei Onishi served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2004-2005 session, then as a Legislative Aide in 2006.  Rei is now attending Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.  He also served as a summer legal intern for the International Rescue Committee in Liberia.
  • Priscilla Ouchida served as Chief of Staff during Joe’s tenure in the Assembly, then as Legislative Director during his first term in the Senate.  Having retired from a long career of public service, Priscilla now spends her time traveling, volunteering, taking photographs, and remodeling her house. 
  • Sarah Rosendahl served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s first Senate term.  She is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy.
  • Anthony Sanchez served as a Senate Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2007-2008 session.  Since his fellowship, Anthony has worked on a number of political campaigns in the Bay Area. 
  • Paige Schoknecht served as executive assistant during Joe’s first term in the Senate.  Currently, Paige is an associate at a public relations firm in San Jose.
  • Renee Wadsworth served as an Office Aide in Joe’s Sacramento office during the 2005-2006 session.  She is currently working at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, DC, as Manager of State Relations and plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy and urban planning.  She may be reached via e-mail at (202) 626-7384.
  • Marisol Wauters served as Office Manager for Joe during his tenure in the California State Senate.  In June 2009, she graduated with a masters degree in Urban Planning.
  • Carlee Weiss served as Office Manager in the Palo Alto District Office during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.  She is currently retired, though she keeps busy with interior design work and travel.
  • Sarah (Mason) Z’berg served as scheduler, legislative aide, and press liaison in the Capitol Office during Joe’s first term in the California State Senate.  She currently works for the Senate Business and Professions Committee.  She may be reached at (916) 651-4104.

State Assembly (2000-2004)

  • Karen Brunton served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  After leaving the office in 2004, Karen worked as a Policy Associate for the Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, graduated law school at University of Washington in Seattle, and managed an Alaska State House campaign.  Karen is currently a Litigation Associate at Perkins Coie, LLP in Seattle.
  • Megan Swezey Fogarty served as Nonprofits Liaison from 2001-2003. She continues to host Joe’s television show, Capitol Focus, and is currently Postgraduate and Alumni Program Director at the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University. Megan may be reached via email at (650) 725-2870.
  • Judy Kramer served as Nonprofits Liaison during Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and during the early part of his tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently retired, but remains active as a community volunteer in Palo Alto and throughout Silicon Valley.  Judy may be reached via email at (650) 494-3222.
  • Jamille Moens served as Policy Aide and later as Press Secretary during Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She also served as Legislative Aide and Press Secretary during his tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Business Services Manager at the Department of Utilities for the City of Sacramento.  Jamille may be reached at (916) 808-5988.
  • Lark Park served as Legislative Aide during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  Lark transferred to the Office of Senator Gloria Romero in 2005, and now works for the Senate Health Committee.  Lark may be reached at (916) 651-4111.
  • Daryl Savage served as Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Chair of the City of Palo Alto Human Relations Commission.
  • Deanna Sessums served as a Senior Field Representative during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly.  She is currently Regional Manager for the Monterey Region of the League of California Cities.  Deanna recently completed an MPA degree at San Jose State. 
  • Andrew Silverman served as an Assembly Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2002-2003 session.  Andrew subsequently graduated from USC’s law school, passed the California State Bar, and is currently an attorney assigned to the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC. 
  • Preston Taylor was an Assembly Fellow in Joe’s office during the 2001-2002 session.  He subsequently served as a Legislative Aide and as a Senior Assistant, working in both the Capitol and District Offices.  After leaving the office, Preston earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and worked in China and India.  Currently he works as a Worldwide Product Marketing Manager for Lenov in Raleigh, North Carolina. 
  • Dena Wilson served as Scheduler and Legislative Aide on aging issues during Joe’s tenure in the California State Assembly. After leaving the office in 2004, Dena worked as an Associate Consultant in the Speaker’s office, then as an Associate Consultant in Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero’s office.  She currently works as a Policy Analyst in the Secretary of Education’s office. 

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (1997-2000)

  • John Brazil served as Land Use & Transportation Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  He currently manages the City of San Jose’s Bicyclist & Pedestrian Program.  John may be reached at (408) 975-3206.
  • Amy Carta served as Health Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She is currently the Assistant Director for the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System.  Amy may be reached at (408) 885-4551.
  • Elizabeth Cuesta served as Office Manager for Joe throughout Joe’s tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She currently serves as Office Manager for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss.  Elizabeth may be reached via email at (408) 299-5050.
  • Joyce Iwasaki served as Executive Assistant for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
  • Seth Masket, Ph.D. served as Law and Justice Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  He is currently an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Denver.  Seth may be reached at (303) 871-2718.
  • Cathryn Ming-Hyde served as Senior Policy Aide for Land Use, Housing, and Transportation for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She is currently serving as Constituent Services Director for US Representative Michael M. Honda, who represents California’s 15th Congressional District.  Cathy may be reached at (408) 558-8085.
  • Paul Murphy served as Health Policy Aide for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He is currently a Senior Policy Analyst for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss, and President of the Horace Mann School Foundation in San Jose.  Paul previously worked for the Santa Clara Family Health Plan and the Harvey M. Rose Accountancy Corporation.  Paul may be reached at (408) 386-9717.
  • Michelle Poche Flaherty served as Joe’s Chief of Staff during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She went on to serve as a Regional Director for the California Trade & Commerce Agency and Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta before returning to local government as Assistant County Manager in Washoe County, Nevada. She currently serves as the Organizational Development Manager for the City of Rockville, Maryland. Michelle may be reached via email at (240) 314-8118.
  • Samantha Spielman served as Policy Aide for Children, Family and Education during Joe’s first year on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She went on to serve as the Political Director for Northern California AIPAC and then as the Director of Project Management for the Creative Department of macys.com. She now is an active volunteer in her East Bay community. 
  • Susie Thom served as Scheduler for Joe during his tenure on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  She was Director of Human Resources at Entech Analytical Labs, Inc. and is currently Administrative Director for the 2009 Senior Games.  She is a member of the City of Palo Alto Library Advisory Commission.