January 2019 –
In September 2018, The Hawkins Company was retained by the California State Senate to conduct an extensive nation-wide executive search to replace the retiring State’s Legislature Analyst. This is one of the top legislative advisory positions in the country and attracted an array of internal and external candidates desirous of leading this prestigious office. The search was led by Christine Boulware of The Hawkins Company. She is a thirty-year search consultant with extensive expertise in C-Suite recruiting at the federal, state and local levels. The Hawkins Company is pleased to report that on January 16, 2019, Senator Holly Mitchell, Chair, Assembly Member Phil Ting, Vice-Chair, and the members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) announced that Gabriel Petek was selected to be the next Legislative Analyst for the California Legislature.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has provided fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature for 75 years. It is known for its fiscal and programmatic expertise and nonpartisan analyses of the state budget. The office serves as the “eyes and ears” for the Legislature to ensure that the executive branch is implementing legislative policy in a cost efficient and effective manner.
Petek, previously a Managing Director and San Francisco Office Head for Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings, was selected after a nationwide, bipartisan search performed by The Hawkins Company alongside a Subcommittee on the Selection of the Legislative Analyst and assumed the position on February 4, 2019. He received a unanimous vote approval of 14-0 from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Senator Mitchell chaired the Subcommittee, serving along with Assembly Member Phil Ting, who is the Vice Chair of the JLBC and Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, and JLBC members and Budget Committee Vice-Chairs, Senator Jim Nielsen, and Assembly Member Jay Obernolte.
Senator Mitchell, said of the selection, “We were fortunate to have many strong candidates who applied to be the Legislative Analyst. Ultimately, we chose Gabriel Petek because we believe that he has both a deep understanding of the state’s budget and fiscal situation, and the ability to assist us in making economic and policy decisions that will best serve the people of California.”
Bill Hawkins, CEO of The Hawkins Company said, “It was great working with the collaborative bipartisan group of esteemed legislators, led by Senator Holly Mitchell and members of the search committee that resulted in the selection of a new Legislative Analyst.” The Hawkins Company wishes to extend a hearty congratulations to the State Legislature’s new Legislative Analyst, Gabriel Petek.