Governor Jerry Brown’s choice for FPPC chair in March 2011, Ann Miller Ravel, moved aggressively in her first year to revamp the commission, drawing kudos from supporters who claim she is simplifying and improving ethics regulations while her detractors say she is siding with lobbyists and politicians to weaken the oversight system.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Ravel graduated from Hastings Law School in 1974. Her family home is in Los Gatos and she has spent most of her professional career practicing public law, including 32 years with the Santa Clara County Counsel’s office.
Ravel first served in the Santa Clara County Counsel's office from 1976-1998, moving up to chief deputy and then chief assistant before heading the office from 1998-2009. Ravel represented the county on the statewide steering committee for tobacco litigation, which won a large settlement that benefits health needs. Under her direction, Santa Clara County also developed the Elder Abuse litigation team for the protection of older adults.
Ravel left the Santa Clara office to become deputy assistant attorney general for Torts and Consumer Litigation in the Civil Division of the U.S.Department of Justice. The office handles drug, consumer product, trade and highway traffic safety litigation.
She has served on the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, the Judicial Council of California from 2002-2005, the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, as well as the Hispanic National Bar Association. Ravel is a Democrat.
Ravel was nominated for a position on the Federal Election Commission in 2013 by President Barack Obama.
Ann Ravel Joins U.S. Justice Department (by Lauren Jow, Palo Alto Online News)
Profiles of Commissioners (FPPC website)
California Ethics Agency Relaxes Rules on Gifts to Politicians (by Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times)
California's Political Watchdog Panel Eases its Approach to Ethics Issues (by Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times)
New Chair of Campaign Finance Watchdog Draws Strong Reactions (by Will Evans, California Watch)
