Kerry Mazzoni is a highly respected former state Assemblywoman and gubernatorial Cabinet Secretary who is known in the Capitol as a consensus builder and problem solver. During her tenure in the state Assembly, and later as Secretary for Education for former Governor Gray Davis, Kerry was a leading reformer of California's education system and is considered to be one of the state's foremost experts on education policy. Over the course of her career, Kerry also developed considerable public policy expertise in health care, the environment, transportation, energy, banking and finance, and housing and community development. She remains active on a number of boards and foundations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to joining Government Strategies Inc. in 2004, Kerry founded Mazzoni and Associates, a firm that provides a variety of clients with public policy and political consulting services. Prior to the establishment of Mazzoni and Associates she served for three years (2000-2003) as the Secretary for Education for former Governor Gray Davis, where she acted as the Governor's chief advisor on education policy, kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education. During this period, she also managed the Governor's comprehensive education agenda in the legislature, represented the Governor on education boards and commissions, and participated in policy forums throughout the state and nation. Prior to her appointment as Education Secretary, Kerry served in the California State Legislature, representing the 6th Assembly District. During her tenure, she was the Vice Chair (1996) and Chair (1997-2000) of the Assembly Education Committee and the Chair of the National Conference of State Legislators Education Committee (1998-2000). Her accomplishments in the field of education are numerous including several pieces of landmark legislation in the area of reading. She was instrumental in the Kindergarten-University Public Education Bond Act of 1998, the current statewide accountability and assessment systems, and professional development programs that exist for teachers today. Although Kerry made her reputation in the education arena, she also proved to be a leader in several other public policy areas. In addition to her Chairmanship of the Assembly Education Committee, she was also an active member of the Assembly Health Committee, Assembly Transportation Committee, Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, and the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee. Her legacy in public policy is far reaching and includes the authorship of legislation dealing with environmental preservation, services for seniors, transportation and safety, HIV prevention and breast cancer research. |