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 Assemblywoman for California’s 73rd Assembly District, Pat was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors by the voters of the Fifth District in 2006.
Pat’s role as a member of the City Council provided her many opportunities to serve the community on both a local and regional level, including as 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 to stop the El Toro Airport.
In 1998, Pat ran for the State Assembly and was overwhelmingly elected 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.
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.
As a State Legislator, Pat was widely regarded by her colleagues as a proven consensus builder – able to bring people together and get things done for the good of the state and her district – and worked diligently to make our communities safer and more livable.
On January 9, 2007, Pat was sworn-in as Supervisor for Orange County’s Fifth District by former Supervisor Marian Bergeson.
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 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 more information on a specific agency, please click on the designated link).
| BOARD | POSITION | LINK |
| Coastal Greenbelt Authority | 5th District BOS Member | |
| Emergency Management Council | Alternate Member #2 | Emergency Management Council |
| Library Advisory Committee | Regular Member | |
| Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) | Alternate Member | LAFCO |
| National Association of Counties (NACo) | Alternate Member | NACo |
| Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee | Alternate Member | Newport Bay Watershed |
| Orange County Council of Governments | Alternate Member | |
| Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council | Alternate Member/ Co-Vice Chair | |
| Orange County Fire Authority | Regular Member | OCFA |
| Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners | 5th District Board Member | |
| Orange County Transportation Authority | 5th District Board Member | OCTA |
| Southern California Water Committee | Alternate or Designee | SCWC |
| Transportation Corridor- Eastern/Foothill | Regular Member | The Toll Roads |
| Transportation Corridor- San Joaquin Hills | Regular Member | The Toll Roads |
Additionally, as Vice Chair of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Pat was selected by the OCTA Board of Directors to serve as:
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Chair, South Orange County Major Investment Study (SOCMIS)
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Chair, Measure M2 Environmental Oversight Committee
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Vice Chair, Executive Committee
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Member, Finance and Administration Committee
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Member, Highways Committee
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Member, Legislative and Communications Committee
Pat Bates began her professional career as a social caseworker in South Central Los Angeles. 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.
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