Meet the Board Leadership

Wesley Chesbro

Wesley Chesbro was appointed to the California Integrated Waste Management Board by the Senate Rules Committee on January 3, 2007. Mr. Chesbro represents the public on the Board.

Mr. Chesbro is a leader in California's modern recycling movement, founding the Arcata Recycling Center in 1971. The Arcata Recycling Center is one of California's oldest and most successful recycling operations.

As a founding member of the California Integrated Waste Management Board in the 1990s, Mr. Chesbro helped lead the statewide effort to achieve a 50 percent reduction in waste going to California's landfills. In the late 1980s he helped draft California's landmark waste management reform legislation which led to the dramatic reduction in the waste stream.

Prior to his current appointment to the Board, Mr. Chesbro spent eight years as a member of the California State Senate including four years as Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. As Senator, he represented California's northbay and northcoast Counties of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte. As a member of the State Senate, Chesbro was a leader on environmental protection, education, health care access, mental health services, and strengthening local governments.

Mr. Chesbro has a long background as an elected local government official. He served from 1974 until 1980 as a member of the Arcata City Council. From 1980 until 1990 he served as a member of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Chesbro holds a degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco. He and his wife Cindy have two sons, Alan and Collin.

Last updated: October 19, 2007