Meet the Board Leadership

John Laird

John Laird was appointed to the California Integrated Waste Management Board by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, effective December 1, 2008. Mr. Laird represents the public on the Board.

Mr. Laird has had a long history on environmental issues and was a member of the Santa Cruz City Council when an early curbside recycling program was established.

Prior to his service on the Waste Board, Mr. Laird served six years in the California State Assembly, representing portions of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. During his tenure Mr. Laird authored 82 bills that were signed into law, and he served four years as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. He was an author of the landmark bill establishing the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and was a leader in civil rights, coastal protection, children’s health, and higher education.

Mr. Laird served 17 years in local office, including 9 years on the Santa Cruz City Council, including terms as Mayor in 1983-84 and 1987-88, and 8 years on the Cabrillo Community College Board of Trustees. Mr. Laird also served on the district staff of Representative Jerome Waldie, as an analyst for the Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer, and as Executive Director of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project.

Mr. Laird was an honors graduate in politics from Adlai Stevenson College at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He and his spouse John Flores reside in Santa Cruz.