Linda Waade, Deputy General Manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is responsible for the agency’s communications, outreach, education and legislative matters.

She oversees a nearly $20 million budget and more than 50 staff members and consultants in Southern California, as well as legislative offices in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.  She also helps orchestrate strategy aimed at gathering support and forming partnerships on issues and positions, as well as programs and projects.

Prior to joining Metropolitan in August 2006, Waade coordinated government and community affairs for the Los Angeles office of CH2M Hill, Inc., where she provided counsel on policy development and outreach strategies for environmental and public works projects.  She also maintained her own consulting firm, Waade Partners Consulting, specializing in environmental and public works issues and projects, including water quality and wastewater infrastructure, air quality and transportation.

Among her experience in local government, Waade was deputy chief of staff and policy director for then Los Angeles Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa from July 2003 to January 2004.  In that position, she developed and coordinated policy positions and initiatives for Villaraigosa on a variety of issues, including transportation, air and water quality as well as other environmental matters.

Waade also served as transportation policy advisor for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley from 1991-93, and as chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Mel Levine in his Los Angeles district office from 1988-89 and as the congressman’s special assistant for environmental affairs from 1987-88.

Waade was executive director of the Coalition for Clean Air, a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to air quality issues, from 1994-98.  While leading the coalition, she represented the organization at local, state and federal levels of government, directed the organization’s budget, and managed all fundraising efforts, including grant writing and administration.

The Santa Monica resident earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University at Los Angeles.  She is a past recipient of the “Environmental Leadership Award” from the California League of Conservation Voters.

She is a former member of Southern California Edison’s Consumer Advisory Panel and the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust board.  She also has served on the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Commission, Lambda Legal’s Development Committee, and on the boards of directors for Tree People and the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.  In addition, she has served on development committees for Heal the Bay and the Santa Monica AIDS Project.