Candidate for
Member; California State Assembly; District 10; Democratic Party

Katherine E. Maestas, Candidate for State Assembly, District 10, was born in Lakenheath, England at a military base hospital. She is the daughter of a Mexican-American World War II Veteran and a school teacher. The family came to the United States soon after her birth when her father was stationed at, and later retired from, McClellan Air Force Base in North Highlands, California.

A graduate of Highlands High School, she worked her way through college and received her Associates Degree from American River College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from California State University, Hayward. She then continued on to pursue an Executive Masters Degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. Her career accomplishments include working as a Legislative Aide for Assembly Members Romero, Alquist and Nation where she staffed legislation and committees on Education, Public Safety, Housing, and Taxation. She has worked as a registered lobbyist with the American Institute of Architects, California Council where she chaired the Urban Design Committee. She is also proud to have worked for the Rural California Housing Corporation (now Mercy Housing), an affordable housing organization.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors appointed Katherine to the Sacramento County Policy Planning Commission in 2002. Prior to this appointment, she served two terms on the Franklin-Laguna Area Community Planning Advisory Council. Katherine is a strong proponent of Smart Growth and well-planned communities. She believes that mixed land use, walkable neighborhoods, alternative transportation choices, affordable housing opportunities, open space, environmental impacts and support of local economic and job development are all key issues in building strong communities. Katherine also believes in the importance of revitalizing our existing communities.

Having attended public schools, Katherine realized the success of a good education and is committed to empowering people through a strong educational system. Katherine intends to promote public education and address the needs of educators and schools from early childhood education through college.

Katherine believes in the importance of volunteering for the community. She is an active member of the community, and has volunteered in many areas over the years. She has served in the past as a Board Member with the Spina Bifida Association of Sacramento Valley and has been active in voter registration drives with various groups, including the League of Women Voters. She is also an active volunteer for her son's school, having chaired a major school event and dedicating numerous volunteer hours to the school each year.

Katherine lives in the Laguna West area of Elk Grove. With the love and support of her best friend Dennis, her husband of eight years, and their two children, Josef and Derek, she looks forward to a successful race for the Assembly.

The 10th Assembly District includes Sacramento, San Joaquin, Amador, and El Dorado Counties.