Monday, July 6, 2009

OC Leaders chosen to lead the CAHSR Commission

That's one way to look at the news that the California High Speed Rail Authority board has a new chair and vice-chair, and they're both from Orange County. According to the press release:

the Board elected Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle to be its
chairman, replacing Judge Quentin L. Kopp who had served two terms as chairman.
Former California Assemblymember Tom Umberg was elected vice-chairman


Pringle is the former Speaker of the State Assembly, where he represented part of
Orange County for eight years during the 1990s. He was first elected Mayor of Anaheim
in 2002 and is widely recognized for his expertise in economic development, land use
planning, transportation and government finance reform. He also serves as a board
member of the Orange County Transportation Authority. “I have long believed in the value and benefit of a high speed rail system for our great state, and to be elected as chairman of the California High Speed Rail is an honor,” said Pringle. “We have a lot of work to do on the state and federal levels, but by working together great things can and will happen. This is an exciting time for high-speed rail and I look forward to future progress.”

Tom Umberg is an attorney with the law firm of Manatt, specializing in federal and state policy and regulatory matters. He was selected as one of the “Best Lawyers in America”in the field of commercial litigation. In 1995, He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles and Orange County. Umberg was appointed Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 1997. He served three terms in the California Legislature, most recently between 2004 and 2006. In the state Assembly, he chaired the Environmental Safety and the Elections and Redistricting Committees.

Congrats to both Orange County leaders, we hope they will push for Orange County's role in further pursuing mass transit options!

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