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''Walter Hughes Named New Comcast California
State Government Affairs Director
alter Hughes is the new Director of State Government
Affairs far Comcast California. Based in Sacramento,
Hughes will report directly to Rochelle Chong, Regional
Vice President of Government Affairs, and be responsible for
Gomcast's state legislative advocacy efforts and state government
relations in California. Hughes replaces Sam Rodriguez who
moved to another company earlier this year.
"We are delighted to welcome Walter Hughes as Comcast's new
Director of State Govemment Affairs," said Chong. "His deep
Capitol experience, and his outstanding reputation far political
strategy and ethics, will be invaluable to Comcast."
A government affairs veteran with more than 18 years of
experience, Hughes has served as Chief of Staff to California State
Senator Ed Hernandez for the last five years. He has overseen
the operations of the Senator's Capitol and District offices, as
well as the Senate Health Committee. Hughes also ran Senator
Hernandez's political and fundraising operations where he was a
top fundraiser in the Democratic Caucus.
Frior to Senator Hemandez's office, Hughes served as Policy
Director to Assembly Member Joe Baca, Jr. He was also a policy
advisor to two former Speakers of the Assembly, Herb Wesson and
Fabian Nunez, as well as a consultant to Dennis Cardoza, former
Chairman of the Assembly Rules Committee.
Hughes also served as a consultant on several successful
campaigns, including those of Mike Machado, Dean Florez and
Barbara Matthews.
During his tenure, Hughes
was instrumental in the
passage of the "Tractor
Tax", which was part
of the 2000 budget
agreement and which
exempted the agricultural
industry from the state's
sales tax. He also helped
negotiate an agreement
between medical doctors
and optometrists over the
treatment of glaucoma.
Hughes started his career
in 1993 as a coordinator
for the Rusty Areias for
State Controller campaign.
From there, he was hired
as a legislative assistant in the oiTices of Mike Machado and
Dennis Gardoza. He aIsa served as a committee consultant to
the Assembly Committee on Agriculture where he focused on
Iand use, pesticides, tax codes, and water quality.
Hughes is an Ellc Grove resident and attended Cal Poly San 1'_,uis
Obispo. ^