Assembly Member Mark DeSaulnier (DE-SOWN-YEA) chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee as well as the Select Committees on Growth Management and Air Quality. DeSaulnier lends his expertise in local government and state regulation to the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Human Services, and Labor and Employment.

DeSaulnier has authored forty bills and coauthored numerous others for the 2007-2008 Legislative Session. His bills address the need to fight truancy among school children, to push back sea-level rise on our coastline, to remove unsafe guns from the hands of children and thieves, to improve indoor air quality in our schools, to better manage state-wide growth and to create opportunities for at-risk youth.

During his four terms on the Board of Supervisors, DeSaulnier addressed the local and regional issues of Contra Costa County on the California Air Resources Board, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Prior to becoming a supervisor, he served as the mayor of Concord and was a city councilmember from 1991 to 1993. He also served on the Concord Planning Commission and was a member of the University of California Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program Advisory Committee.

Transportation: Mark has consistently fought for transportation issues throughout Contra Costa County.

During his 10 years on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, DeSaulnier and his fellow commission members oversaw the most recent edition of the long-range plan, Transportation 2030, which charts a new course for the agency, particularly with regard to promoting “smart growth” development patterns. DeSaulnier also guided the development and implementation of the FasTrak electronic toll collection system and the 511.org traffic information system to ease traffic congestion and speed travel throughout the Bay Area and surrounding communities.

In response to the 2007 fiery tanker truck crash that closed the MacArthur Maze, he co-authored legislation (Assembly Bill 1612) that cracked down on hazardous materials truck operators who had operated without regular safety inspections. DeSaulnier has been a strong champion for the expansion of the light rail eBART extension into Eastern Contra Costa County (expected operation by 2013-14).

Chairing the Assembly Transportation Committee, DeSaulnier has voted to fully fund public transportation projects throughout both Contra Costa and California.

Air Quality: DeSaulnier has cultivated extensive experience in air quality management. The historic Contra Costa County Industrial Safety Ordinance and the Refinery Flare Rule for local refineries and chemical facilities sponsored by Supervisor DeSaulnier stand as landmark collaborative legislation that protect workers and surrounding Bay Area communities.

Health Care: Throughout his career in public service, DeSaulnier worked to greatly advanced healthcare access and quality of treatment for his constituents. He authored local measures to fight childhood obesity and to expand second-hand smoke regulations.
Recognizing the great need for women's health services, DeSaulnier introduced a comprehensive Women's Health Program that would serve the health care needs of all women in Contra Costa County. The plan included construction of four new Women's Health Centers featuring a "one-stop shopping" approach to women's health needs. The Women's Health Centers are located in Bay Point, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Concord and Richmond.

As a county supervisor, DeSaulnier annually spent surplus office funding for suicide prevention, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, preventative dental care for disadvantaged youth, and school breakfast programs.

Smart Growth: DeSaulnier continues to play a significant role in Regionalism and Smart Growth. He has long been a champion of the need for government agencies to collaboratively solve regional problems. He established the Interregional Partnership that has spearheaded legislation to change growth patterns. He instigated the Regional Agencies Smart Growth Strategy and the Contra Costa: Shaping Our Future, process. He is also the co-author of the Contra Costa County Smart Growth Action Plan.

The Assembly Member will continue to advocate Transit Oriented Developments, (such as the Contra Costa Centre), and mixed-use infill projects that combine housing, offices, and retail, in order to reduce unnecessary vehicle trips.

Children & Family Issues: The welfare and needs of children have been DeSaulnier’s major concern throughout his service. He has sponsored numerous initiatives on their behalf including the Contra Costa Children’s Report Card and the Children’s Accountability Act, both tools for evaluating children’s issues and the impact of county programs on children. He also established the annual Children and Families' Budget, a separate County budget that reviews and measures the effectiveness of County programs in these areas. His other projects for children include AfterSchool4All, the Future Fund and the Children and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors.

Last Updated on April 21, 2008.