Christopher Townsend
Since founding TPA in 1998, Christopher has led a close-knit team of advocates and grant writers, securing the passage of over 100 client-sponsored bills and securing over $1.8 billion in funding for legacy projects.
Previous experience:
- Senior Director of Government and Community Affairs, PepsiCo, Inc.
- Vice President of Public Affairs, Stein-Brief Group, Inc.
Christopher and TPA have participated in the development and implementation of several California bond propositions for the statewide ballot to provide capital funding for major infrastructure projects, including water and sanitation, transportation, education, housing and economic development, parks and natural resources, and historical and cultural resources, including Propositions 1, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 12, 13, 14, 40, 47, 50, 55, 68 and 84. Most recently, Christopher worked closely with the State Legislature and the Governor’s office on the drafting of SB 5 (De Leon), which authorized a $4 billion park bond that was approved on the November 2018 statewide ballot as Proposition 68.
In 2002, Christopher was personally requested by Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown to help him secure additional funding for three of his priority projects for the City of Oakland: the establishment of the Oakland Military Institute (OMI), the creation of a permanent facility for the Oakland School of the Arts (OSA), and the renovation and restoration of the historic Fox Theater. Under Christopher’s leadership, TPA secured over $24.5 million for all three projects.
In 1997, Christopher was appointed by Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante to serve on the California Film Commission.
In 1999, Christopher was appointed by Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa to serve on the Speaker’s Commission on State and Local Government Finance.
JFK School of Government at Harvard University, Masters of Public Administration
Claremont McKenna College, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Additional academic achievements include:
- Coro Fellow
- Harry S Truman Scholar