Elected Officials

Supervisor Pat Bates (R)

Pat Bates has a well-earned reputation as one of Orange County's most accomplished public servants. She was the driving force behind Laguna Niguel's campaign for cityhood and became its first Mayor upon the City's incorporation in 1989. She served four terms as Mayor and then continued serving as a City Council Member until her election to the State Assembly in 1998. After completing three successful terms as State Assemblywoman for the 73rd Assembly District, Pat was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2006 by the voters of the Fifth District.

Pat's role as a member of the City Council provided her with many opportunities to serve the community on both a local and regional level, including Chair of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), the leading governmental entity in the 10 year fight against El Toro Airport.

In 1998, Pat ran for the State Assembly and was elected overwhelmingly by the people of the 73rd Assembly District. In the Assembly, she served as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Appropriations and Assembly Health Committee; and was the founding Chair of the Republican Women's Caucus – leading the Caucus' outreach program to inspire women across California to become more involved in the development of public policy. While serving in the Assembly, Pat was appointed to the prestigious Little Hoover Commission; and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her to serve on his historic California Performance Review Commission – responsible for providing recommendations on reforming State Government and its operations.

In the Assembly, Pat was known as a consensus builder – able to bring people together and get things done for the good of the state and her district. Pat worked diligently to make our communities safer and more livable. Her legislative accomplishments include measures that require sex offenders to register with campus police when they enroll or work on a college campus, provide greater protections against child abduction, child abuse, and domestic violence; and a call for fair and reasonable decision-making procedures in homeowner associations.

Working closely with city and county leaders, she successfully authored legislative measures broadening Orange County's eligibility for critical transportation dollars and safeguarding the voting rights of our service men and women overseas.

Additionally, she tirelessly advocated for tougher penalties for the sale and use of the club drug Ecstasy, the expansion of criminal background checks for in-home caregivers to protect seniors and the disabled, and championed measures seeking to grant public colleges and universities the authority to authorize and oversee new charter schools – a measure that is now touted by experts across the nation as fundamental to increasing quality and choice in public education.

On January 9, 2007, Pat was sworn-in as Supervisor for Orange County's Fifth District by former Supervisor Marian Bergeson before an audience of hundreds of supporters.

As only the fourth woman ever elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Pat looks forward to honoring pledges made to Fifth District voters during her run for office. These include:

• Calling upon her colleagues on the Board and in Sacramento to work together to implement regulations and procedures that shorten the timeline for delivery of transportation projects; and ensure the projects programmed in Measure M for traffic congestion relief move forward with urgency.
• Working in unison with her fellow board members in implementing pension and retiree medical liability reduction measures; and working with staff in developing equitable and affordable compensation packages that allow the County to continue to attract the best and brightest employees who are rewarded for quality performance.
• Protecting our coastal environment – essential to maintaining Orange County's quality of life – and continuing the Orange County Coastal Coalition in partnership with Supervisor Moorlach.

In addition to serving as Supervisor for Orange County's beautiful Fifth District, Pat is also proud to have been appointed with the support of her colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to the following Boards, Commissions and Committees for 2007.

• California State Association of Counties: Regular Member / Elected to Executive Board
• Children and Families Commission: Alternate Member
• Coastal Greenbelt Authority: District 5 Board Member
• Emergency Management Council: Alternate Member #3
• Fire Authority: Regular Member #1
• Library Advisory Board: Regular Member
• Local Agency Formation Commission: Alternate Member
• National Association of Counties: Alternate Member
• Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee: Alternate Member
• Orange County Council of Governments: Alternate Member
• Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners: District 5 Board Member
• Orange County Transportation Authority: District 5 Board Member
• South Orange County Public Financing Authority: District 5 Board Member
• Southern California Water Committee: Regular Member
• Talega Joint Planning Authority Board of Directors: District 5 Board Member
• Transportation Corridor – Eastern/Foothill: District 5 Board Member
• Transportation Corridor – San Joaquin Hills: District 5 Board Member
• Urban County Caucus: Regular Member

As District 5 Board Member on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Pat was selected by the OCTA Board of Directors to also serve as:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Chair of the Legislative and Government Affairs / Public Communications Committee
• Chair of South County Major Investment Study
• Member of the Finance and Administration Committee

• The San Diego Business Journal's WOMEN WHO MEAN BUSINESS award for her strong advocacy and leadership on behalf of the business community.
• The PTA Honorary Service Award for development of a parent participation program for elementary schools.
• Junior League of Orange County Sustainer of the Year award for her work in establishing the Gallery Project, one of the first educational program centers for Orange County’s Ocean Institute.
• The California Coastal Coalition and the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project's Coastal Stewardship Award for her tireless work to promote the preservation, protection, and restoration of California's coastline.
• American Association of University Women in recognition of her efforts to promote open and responsive local government.
• BIOCOM of San Diego, the regional association for the life sciences industry, Legislator of the Year 2002 Award for efforts on behalf of their research and technology issues.
• California Campus Police Chiefs' Association Legislator of the Year for her Assembly Bill 4 (a Megan's Law for college campuses) which requires sex offenders to register with campus police authorities if they are enrolled or working on a college campus.
• California Crime Victims United "Legislator of the Year" award for her dedicated work for victim's rights and protections and proactive support of legislation supporting law enforcement.
• The Orange County Division of the California League of Cities "Legislator of the Year" award for her dedication to and support of local government.
• The Regional Center of Orange County's "Spotlight Award" for her dedication to the needs of the disabled community.
• The Orange County Republican Party's "Legislator of the Year" award for her loyalty and strong support of the Party and its principles.
• The Orange County Federation of Republican Women's "Legislator of the Year" award for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of Orange County residents in her role as a State Assemblywoman.
• The Charter School Association's "Legislator of the Year" award for her leading edge legislative efforts to involve public colleges and universities in developing new quality charter schools.

Pat earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Occidental College, continued her studies in psychology as a graduate student at California State University, Long Beach and also attended the University of Madrid, Spain where she studied European cultural history.

Pat Bates began her professional career as a social caseworker in South Central Los Angeles. She left County service to join her husband in establishing his architecture practice in Orange County. Pat continues to serve as administrative partner in the family-owned business.

Pat has extensive experience in community volunteer activities and as an elected official in local government.

A native of Southern California, Pat grew up in Long Beach and moved to South Orange County in 1978. She is married to Architect John Bates. Pat and John have two adult children, and four grandchildren.

More Information:
Supervisor Pat Bates Website