KP

Pilar Oñate-Quintana

Contact Information

1201 K Street, Suite 800
Sacramento, CA 95814

Direct: 916-498-7736

Main: 916-448-2162

Fax: 916-448-4923

E-Mail: ponate@ka-pow.com

Professional Experience

Pilar Oñate-Quintana joined KP Public Affairs in June 2006 after more than 14 years of a wide range of legislative and public affairs experience.

Prior to joining KP, Ms. Oñate-Quintana was a principal legislative representative for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where she served as lead on a variety of water supply, water quality, desalination, water recycling, local government and other issues of concern to the district.

Ms. Oñate-Quintana also served in California's executive branch, most recently as the deputy director for legislative affairs for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, where she developed strategies for fostering political and stakeholder support for the department's mission and activities, served as the department's representative in efforts to develop the California Indian Heritage Center and managed the legislative affairs unit.

Other executive branch positions include work as the assistant director for legislative affairs for the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, where she worked with legislative offices, lobbyists and key stakeholders on legislation pertaining to hospital seismic safety, healthcare work force, healthcare quality and other issues. Additionally, she served as assistant secretary for legislative affairs for the California Health and Human Services Agency.

Her State Capitol experience includes serving as a legislative staff member and press secretary for Senate Majority Leader Charles Calderon, where she also worked as a committee consultant for public safety issues for the Senate Toxics and Public Safety Committee. She also served as chief of staff for Assemblymember Tom Calderon, where she staffed the School Funding Reform and San Gabriel Valley Groundwater Contamination Select Committees.

Education

Ms. Oñate-Quintana holds a bachelor's degree in Government and Journalism from the California State University, Sacramento and a master's degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.