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As a champion of excellence in state governance, The Council of State Governments West (CSG West) provides state legislators and legislative staff with valuable relationship building and professional growth opportunities through a variety of member-driven, regionally focused programs and services. Highly informative conversation and peer-to-peer collaboration are the focus of our regular convenings, with a keen eye on supporting important state and regional policy efforts.

Membership is automatic for western legislators and legislative staff, and our members value the chance to confer with peers from other states in a nonpartisan atmosphere as they share cross-border knowledge and lessons learned in a variety of areas.

Whether addressing concerns specific to the region, assessing international dynamics, or honing essential leadership and consensus-building skills, CSG West’s programs are designed to assist elected leaders throughout the west in becoming more effective in their work.  

CSG West is particularly unique in the broader organization as the only region of CSG with dual international borders, a fact that is embraced and explored through several special programs and forums designed to foster the exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices on topics related to international relations and their intersection with state governance. 

Quite unlike any other organization, the broader CSG structure enables our various operations to access valuable resources at the regional, national, and international levels. Three CSG key offerings available to members across all regions include:

  • Access to a national perspective on key topics to help expand their knowledge base
  • In the realm of justice reform, the CSG Justice Center offers access to objective, data-driven research to support state-based justice efforts
  • Through the National Center for Interstate Compacts, states can receive information and technical assistance to develop interstate compacts which promote multi-state problem solving.

Our History Withstands the Test of Time

Henry Wolcott Toll was a Colorado state Senator who believed that if states wished to maintain control over inherent state issues, interstate cooperation was imperative. The strength of his conviction led him to establish what was once the American Legislators Association in 1925 with one straightforward goal: to provide elected state legislators with information and opportunities to connect. Enjoying significant success, the effort evolved. Senator Toll and a dozen colleagues formally established The Council of State Governments (CSG) in 1933 as a national organization serving all three branches of government. Initially based in Chicago, Illinois, CSG moved its headquarters to Lexington, Kentucky in 1967 – where it remains to this day –  providing essential leadership nationally and to the regional operations at CSG East, established in 1937; CSG Midwest, established in 1945; and CSG West and the Southern Legislative Conference, both established in 1947.  

Our Member Services are Highly Valued

Through our work, we strive to keep members informed about critical issues, emerging trends, and best practices impacting the work of states. This includes opportunities to attend regularly scheduled meetings, participate in leadership training programs, receive informational updates, and utilize all available resources. Whether your interest is in attending meetings to collaborate with fellow leaders or requesting research assistance for your issue work, our staff is available to help. We can be reached via email or telephone at csgw@csg.org or 916-553-4423.

Our Governance is Member Driven

Governance of CSG West is run with member needs top of mind, particularly given the weighty responsibilities of our members. Composed of Executive Committee members, officers are elected annually and rotated to ensure a bi-partisan approach in their direct oversight of the organization’s work. Acting as our governing board, the Executive Committee is made up of legislative leaders from each state and meets each year during the CSG West Annual Meeting – our marquee event — to review the work of CSG West policy committees, adopt policy positions and recommendations, and review the ongoing development and effectiveness of the organization.

Officers
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Senator Bill Hansell

Oregon

Chair

Senator Hansell is serving in his third term in the Oregon state legislature representing District 29, which encompasses…

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Representative Mike Yin

Wyoming

Chair-Elect

Wyoming State Representative Mike Yin represents the residents of Jackson, Wyoming in the heart of Jackson Hole. In…

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Senator Todd Weiler

Utah

Vice-Chair & Legislative Oversight Working Group Co-Chair

Todd Weiler was born in Georgia and raised in the Chicago suburbs. He attended college at Brigham Young…

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Assemblymember Mike Gipson

California

CSG West Immediate Past Chair

CSG National Vice Chair

Executive Committee

Alaska

  • President Gary Stevens, President of the Senate, CSG Past Chair
  • Senator Matt Claman, appointed by Senate President, Co-Chair – Public Safety Committee
  • Senator Cathy Giessel, Senate Majority Leader
  • Speaker Cathy Tilton, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Dan Saddler, House Majority Leader
  • Representative Calvin Schrage, House Minority Leader
  • Representative Craig Johnson, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Louise Stutes, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Senator Loki Tobin, appointed by Senate President
  • Jessica Geary, Chair – Legislative Service Agency & Research Directors

Arizona

  • President Warren Petersen, President of the Senate
  • Senator Denise Epstein, Senate Minority Leader
  • Speaker Ben Toma, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Andrés Cano, House Minority Leader
  • Representative Justin Wilmeth, appointed by Speaker of the House

California

  • President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Senate President Pro Tempore
  • Senator Brian W. Jones, Senate Minority Leader
  • Senator Monique Limon, appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore
  • Speaker Robert Rivas, Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblymember James Gallagher, Minority Leader
  • Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson, Majority Whip, Co-Chair – Agriculture & Water Committee
  • Assemblymember Mike Gipson, CSG West Immediate Past Chair
  • Assemblymember David Alvarez, Co-Chair – Legislative Oversight Working Group
  • Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly

Colorado

  • President Steve Fenberg, President of the Senate
  • Senator Paul Lundeen, Senate Minority Leader
  • Senator Chris Hansen, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Dominick Moreno, Majority Leader, appointed by Senate President
  • Speaker Julie McCluskie, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Mike Lynch, House Minority Leader
  • Representative Cathy Kipp, Co-Chair – Education Committee
  • Representative Julie McCluskie, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Mike Lynch, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Monica Duran, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Jennifer Bacon, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Rose Pugliese, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Cathy Kipp, appointed by Speaker of the House, Co-Chair – Educaiton Committee

Hawaii

  • President Ronald D. Kouchi, President of the Senate
  • Senator Kurt Fevella, Minority Leader
  • Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha, Majority Leader, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Chris Lee, appointed by Senate President
  • Speaker Scott Saiki, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Lauren Matsumoto, Minority Leader
  • Representative Greggor Ilagan, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Nicole E. Lowen, Co-Chair – Energy & Environment Committee
  • Representative Dee Morikawa, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Nadine K. Nakamura, appointed by Speaker of the House

Idaho

  • President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, Senate President Pro Tempore
  • Senator Melissa Wintrow, Minority Leader, Co-Chair – Housing Committee
  • Senator Kelly Anthon, appointed by Senate President
  • Speaker Mike Moyle, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Lori McCann, Co-Chair – Education Committee
  • Representative Ilana Rubel, Minority Leader

Montana

  • President Jason Ellsworth, President of the Senate
  • Senator Pat Joseph Flowers, Minority Leader
  • Speaker Matt Regier, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Kim Abbott, Minority Leader
  • Representative Wendy McKamey, Co-Chair – Agriculture & Water Committee

Nevada

  • Senator Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, Senate Majority Leader
  • Senator Fabian Donate, appointed by Senate Majority Leader
  • Senator Heidi Seevers Gansert, Minority Leader
  • Senator Rochelle T. Nguyen, Co-Chair – Health Committee
  • Speaker Steve Yeager, Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblywoman Elaine Marzola, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblyman Philip P.K. O’Neil, Minority Floor Leader
  • Assemblyman Howard Watts, III, Co-Chair Colorado River Forum
  • Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
  • Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno, appointed by Speaker of the Assembly

New Mexico

  • Senator Mimi Stewart, President Pro Tempore
  • Senator Gregory Baca, Minority Floor Leader
  • Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, Co-Chair – Westrends Board, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Benny Shendo, Jr. appointed by Senate President
  • Speaker Javier I. Martinez, Speaker of the House
  • Representative T. Ryan lane, Minority Floor Leader
  • Senator Bill Soules, Chair – Border Legislative Conference

Oregon

  • President Rob Wagner, President of the Senate
  • Senator Tim Knopp, Minority Leader
  • Senator Daniel Bonham, Co-chair Housing Committee
  • Senator Bill Hansell, CSG West Chair
  • Speaker Julie Fahey, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Jeff Helfrich, Minority Leader
  • Senator Elizabeth Steiner, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Kate Lieber, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Janeen Sollman, appointed by Senate President

Utah

  • President Stuart Adams, President of the Senate, Past CSG West Chair
  • Senator Luz Escamilla, Minority Leader
  • Senator Evan J. Vickers, Majority Leader, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Daniel McCay, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Ann Millner, appointed by Senate President
  • Senator Todd Weiler, Co-Chair – Legislative Oversight Working Group, CSG West Vice Chair
  • Senator Chris Wilson, appointed by Senate President
  • Speaker Mike Schultz, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Angela Romero, Minority Leader
  • Representative Steve Eliason, Co-Chair – Health Committee

Washington

  • Senator Andy Billig, Majority Leader
  • Senator John Braun, Minority Leader
  • Senator Bob Hasegawa, appointed by Senate Majority Leader
  • Senator Sam Hunt, CSG West Past Chair
  • Senator Patty Kuderer, appointed by Senate Majority Leader
  • Senator Claudia Kauffman, Chair of Legislative Council on River Governance
  • Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Drew Stokesbary, Minority Leader
  • Representative Lilian Ortiz-Self, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Mari Leavitt, appointed by Speaker of the House
  • Representative Debra Lekanoff, Co-Chair – Canada Relations Committee
  • Representative Gina Mosbrucker, appointed by Speaker of the House

Wyoming

  • President Ogden Driskill, President of the Senate
  • Senator Larry Hicks, Majority Floor Leader, Co-Chair Colorado River Forum
  • Senator Chris Rothfuss, Minority Floor Leader
  • Senator Eric Barlow, Co-Chair – Energy & Environment Committee
  • Speaker Albert Sommers, Speaker of the House
  • Representative Mike Yin, Minority Floor Leader, CSG West Chair-Elect
  • Representative Landon Brown, Co-Chair – Westrends Board
  • Representative Karlee Provenza, 2023 WLA Class President

American Samoa

  • (Presently None)

Guam

  • (Presently None)

Northern Mariana Islands

  • (Presently None)

Alberta, Canada

  • MLA Grant Hunter
  • MLA Tany Yao

British Columbia, Canada

  • (Presently None)
Staff
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Edgar Ruiz

Director

Edgar Ruiz serves as Director of The Council of State Governments West (CSG West), leading the organization since November 2011. He oversees CSG West’s many flagship programs and services that encourage peer-to-peer sharing and professional development…

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Martha Castañeda

Director of Policy & International Programs

Martha Castañeda serves as Director of Policy and International Programs, a position she has held since 2016. She…

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Will Keyse

Professional Development Manager

Will Keyse serves as the Professional Development Manager for The Council of State Governments (CSG) West. In this…

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Amanda Korte

Director of Engagement

Amanda Korte leads The Council of State Governments West’s marketing and advancement initiatives, including work on member engagement,…

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Jonathan Lennartz

Communications & Development Specialist

Jonathan Lennartz serves as the Communications and Development Specialist for The Council of State Governments West (CSG West),…

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Shilpa Patel

Policy Analyst

Shilpa Patel provides support for The Council of State Governments West (CSG West) as lead staff to the…

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Delise Turner

Meetings and Administrative Coordinator

Delise Turner serves as Meeting and Administrative Coordinator for The Council of State Governments West. Delise holds a…

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Jacqueline Tinetti

Policy Analyst

Jackie Tinetti leads The Council of State Governments West’s (CSG West) Natural Resources portfolio, covering the dynamic issue…

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Patricia Villalba-Fletes

Senior Data and Registration Specialist

Patricia Villalba-Fletes is the Senior Data and Registration Specialist for The Council of State Governments (CSG) West. In…

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Carina West

Operations Manager

Carina West serves as Operations Manager for The Council of State Governments West (CSG West). In this role,…

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CSG National Officers & Staff
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Governor Joe Lombardo

Nevada

CSG National President

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Assistant Deputy Speaker Pro-Tempore Kevin Ryan

CSG National Chair

Connecticut

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Senator Elgie Sims

Illinois

CSG National Chair-Elect

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Assemblymember Mike Gipson

California

CSG West Immediate Past Chair

CSG National Vice Chair

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Governor John Carney

Delaware

CSG Immediate Past National President

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Representative Julia Howard

CSG Immediate Past National Chair

North Carolina

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David Adkins

Executive Director and CEO

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