Richard Harris is a lobbyist providing legislative solutions for clients with interests in issues impacting natural resources, transportation, business and municipalities. He is a former California State Assembly legislative committee consultant, serving as senior consultant to the Economic Development and New Technologies Committee under Chairman (and now Congressman), Sam Farr.
Mr. Harris also worked for two former Majority Leaders of the State Assembly, Mike Roos of Los Angeles and Thomas Hannigan of Fairfield. As leadership staff he helped develop caucus positions on utility, biotechnology, tourism, housing, labor and economic development issues.
Mr. Harris served nearly seven years as District Director for Congressman Vic Fazio, then the third ranking Democrat in Congress. He was Fazio's chief policy and political liaison to all local government agencies in seven Sacramento valley counties.
Representative Work
Port of Oakland. As the chief lobbyist for this agency that owns and operates the Oakland International Airport, Jack London Square and the third largest seaport in the state, Mr. Harris has been their chief advocate on transportation, job creation, air quality and other issues. He wrote legislation to put a Bond before the voters to finance infrastructure improvements and security measures in the state.
Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies. Successfully led a coalition that defeated legislation detrimental to the completion of the agencies' publicly-owned toll road network.
Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Drafted legislation and led the successful effort to receive $50 million in state funding for the Sacramento Emergency Clean Air Transportation Plan.
WateReuse Association. As the long time lobbyist for this association, Mr. Harris is the "voice" for recycled water issues in Sacramento. He successfully placed funding and "capture" language in California's Proposition 13 of 2000, providing more than $100 million in loans and grants to fund water recycling projects in the state.
Bay Area Council. Lobbied for this San Francisco business executive group, led at the time by the former Secretary of the state's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Sunne McPeak. He helped develop and negotiate the group's legislation to facilitate water transfers.
Proposition 13. Responsible for the inclusion of $15 million in California's 2000 Proposition 13 for water quality and watershed improvements at Lake Elsinore, on behalf of public agencies and private interests.
City of Irvine. Represents the City on issues related to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Base reuse and the development of the Orange County Great Park.
Represented three municipal water districts on matters related to hydroelectric power generation, funding of recycling and water projects and governance.
Lobbied the Legislature and/or provided strategic planning and consultation for many of Nossaman's private sector clients, including:
- Cargill
- Williams Communications
- Electronic Sign Communications Network
- California Water Association
- Levine-Fricke Restoration
- Solano Garbage
- Family Winemakers of California
- California Small Brewers Association
- Lubrizol Corporation,
- California Legislative Conference on Interior Design.
Assists public and private clients in developing message campaigns, public outreach, legislative contact, polling and association membership programs.