A Climate Change with Matt Matern Climate Podcast

Chris Chavez is Deputy Policy Director for the Coalition for Clean Air (CCA), where he oversees local advocacy, legislative outreach, and communications efforts, including social and traditional media engagement. His work focuses on advancing clean transportation, electric vehicle adoption, and policies that benefit disadvantaged communities. He has played key roles in developing messaging, advocacy strategies, and public engagement campaigns for successful statewide and local ballot initiatives.

Prior to joining CCA, Chris served in the California State Senate, working for Senators Fran Pavley and Alex Padilla. During his tenure, he developed expertise in transportation, local government, and education policy, while also serving on the Senate Budget Committee and as a lead staff member on the Senate floor. He helped manage legislation that led to the nation’s first law requiring universities to provide healthcare and scholarship protections for injured student-athletes.

Before his work in state government, Chris was elected President of the California State Student Association, representing more than 430,000 California State University students. He also held several leadership positions with Associated Students at California State University, Long Beach, including President/CEO and Vice President of the Student Senate.

An active civic leader, Chris has served as an alternate member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee and as President of the Long Beach Young Democrats. He is also a passionate advocate for immigrant rights and community engagement.