by John Glidden | glid24@protonmail.com | February 15, 2025
VALLEJO – Newly elected State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, D-West Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Little Hoover Commission, a 13-person nonpartisan oversight agency tasked with investigating state operations and policy.
Cabaldon’s appointment was made by the California Senate Rules Committee, the Little Hoover Commission announced recently. Cabaldon replaces State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, who served on the Little Hoover Commission from 2021 until his election to Congress in 2024.
The commission presents recommendations to the governor and legislature to promote California’s economy, efficiency and improve state operations.
Current commissioners include: Pedro Nava, Anthony Cannella, Dion Aroner, David Beier, Cabaldon, Assemblymember Phillip Chen, Gil Garcetti, José Atilio Hernández, Jason Johnson, Gayle Miller, Assemblymember Liz Ortega, and Janna Sidley.
The commission will hold a public hearing on California Electricity Costs at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 27.
“California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation,” according to a Little Hoover overview on the topic. “The Little Hoover Commission is assessing how the state can make energy more affordable for its residents without sacrificing its green energy goals, with a particular focus on ratepayer-funded programs.”
Cabaldon was elected to California’s Third Senate District last November, replacing long-time legislator Bill Dodd, who was termed out of office. Dodd announced he launched Dodd and Chaaban Strategies, a government relations and public affairs firm in partnership with his longtime chief of staff, Ezrah Chaaban, the Fairfield Daily Republic reported in January.
“It’s a chance to use my knowledge, experience and relationships to bring people together and find solutions,” said Dodd. “After retiring from the Legislature, I wanted to find new ways to move our state and communities forward, and that’s exactly what this new firm will do.”
Prior to his time in the state senate, Cabaldon served as mayor of West Sacramento, “where he implemented pioneering initiatives, including universal preschool, college savings accounts for kindergarteners, and free community college for local graduating seniors,” according to the same news release.
California’s Third Senate District includes the cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, Yountville, and St. Helena in Napa County; Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Vallejo, in Solano County; Cotati, Rohnert Park, and Sonoma in Sonoma County; Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland in Yolo County; as well as Isleton in Sacramento County, and the cities of Oakley and Brentwood in Contra Costa County.
Some of Cabaldon’s committee assignments include: Appropriations, Budget and Fiscal Review, Education, Housing, Local Government, and Joint Committee on Rules.
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