PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS

Travis Allen is a candidate for governor and a current member of the Travis Allen is a candidate for governor and a current member of the California State Assembly. He has represented the 72nd assembly district in northern coastal State Assembly. He has represented the 72nd assembly district in northern coastal Orange County since 2012. As an assemblymember, his priorities are lower taxes, Orange County since 2012. As an assemblymember, his priorities are lower taxes, safer communities, better roads, and better schools. He wants to build a California safer communities, better roads, and better schools. He wants to build a California where small businesses can thrive and communities of hardworking families can where small businesses can thrive and communities of hardworking families can afford to live. Previously, he operated his own small business as a certified financial afford to live. Previously, he operated his own small business as a certified financial planner for more than 20 years. He concentrated on investing and building secure planner for more than 20 years. He concentrated on investing and building secure retirements for working families, retirees, and local business owners. He is active retirements for working families, retirees, and local business owners. He is active in many charitable and community organizations, including helping the homeless in many charitable and community organizations, including helping the homeless of Orange County with the Orange County Rescue Mission. He holds a bachelor’s of Orange County with the Orange County Rescue Mission. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cal State Long Beach and has also studied at Cal State degree in economics from Cal State Long Beach and has also studied at Cal State Los Angeles. He is a long-time resident of Huntington Beach. Los Angeles. He is a long-time resident of Huntington Beach.

Mark Baldassare is president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California, Mark Baldassare is president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California, where he holds the Arjay and Frances Fearing Miller Chair in Public Policy. He is where he holds the Arjay and Frances Fearing Miller Chair in Public Policy. He is a leading expert on public opinion and survey methodology, and has directed the a leading expert on public opinion and survey methodology, and has directed the PPIC Statewide Survey since 1998. He is an authority on elections, voter behavior, PPIC Statewide Survey since 1998. He is an authority on elections, voter behavior, and political and fiscal reform, authoring ten books and numerous reports on these and political and fiscal reform, authoring ten books and numerous reports on these topics. He often provides testimony before legislative committees and state topics. He often provides testimony before legislative committees and state commissions, and regularly hosts PPIC’s Speaker Series, a public forum featuring commissions, and regularly hosts PPIC’s Speaker Series, a public forum featuring in-depth interviews with state and national leaders. Previously, he served as in-depth interviews with state and national leaders. Previously, he served as PPIC’s director of research. Before joining PPIC, he was a professor of urban and PPIC’s director of research. Before joining PPIC, he was a professor of urban and regional planning at the University of California, Irvine, where he held the Johnson regional planning at the University of California, Irvine, where he held the Johnson Chair in Civic Governance. He has conducted surveys for the Los Angeles Times, Chair in Civic Governance. He has conducted surveys for the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the California Business Roundtable. He holds the San Francisco Chronicle, and the California Business Roundtable. He holds a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. Ruben Barrales is president and CEO of GROW Elect. Before joining GROW Elect, Ruben Barrales is president and CEO of GROW Elect. Before joining GROW Elect, he served as president and CEO of the Regional Chamber of Commerce. he served as president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. He also served for five years as deputy assistant to the president and director of He also served for five years as deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs for President George W. Bush. Before joining the White intergovernmental affairs for President George W. Bush. Before joining the White House staff, he was president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, House staff, he was president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, a civic organization of Silicon Valley business, government, and academic leaders. a civic organization of Silicon Valley business, government, and academic leaders. In 1998, he was the California Republican Party nominee for state controller. In In 1998, he was the California Republican Party nominee for state controller. In 1992, he became the first Latino elected to the San Mateo County Board of 1992, he became the first Latino elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. He serves on both the PPIC Statewide Survey Advisory Committee Supervisors. He serves on both the PPIC Statewide Survey Advisory Committee and on PPIC’s board of directors, which he joined in 2007. He has served on and on PPIC’s board of directors, which he joined in 2007. He has served on several key commissions and boards, including the California Speaker’s Commis- several key commissions and boards, including the California Speaker’s Commis- sion on State and Local Government Finance and the California Commission of sion on State and Local Government Finance and the California Commission of Local Governance for the 21st Century. He grew up in Redwood City, California, Local Governance for the 21st Century. He grew up in Redwood City, California, and received a BA with a joint major in political science and administrative studies and received a BA with a joint major in political science and administrative studies from the University of California, Riverside. from the University of California, Riverside.