Cottie Petrie-Norris

Cottie Petrie-Norris grew up in San Diego County. She graduated from Helix High School. She earned a B.A. in economics and English from Yale University in 1997. Her career experience includes working in finance and technology, specifically as a business analyst for Capital One, a business manager for American Express South Africa, a director of Capital One's U.S. card division, and a marketing director or consultant for In-Deed Online, DayNa Decker, and Cress Communications.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

It is my honor to represent Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Tustin in the State Assembly. As your representative, I’ve listened to the residents of our district and worked with leaders of both parties to find commonsense solutions to the problems facing California.

I’m proud to have passed legislation to make neighborhoods safer, improve schools, protect our environment, and help local veterans and small businesses. I hope to earn your vote so that I may continue advocating for Orange County in the State Assembly.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Great Schools

All California students should have access to high-quality public education, regardless of income level or zip code. I believe this starts with fully funding our public schools, addressing our statewide teacher shortage problem, and ensuring state funding is being equitably distributed to school districts with the most need to help close achievement gaps.Safe Communities

I fight for safe communities and fast emergency response times and am proud to have the support of local firefighters, law enforcement, and first responders. I have secured state funding for critical public safety investments in Orange County, including Irvine’s Real Time Crime Center, the Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center based in Costa Mesa, and the Orange County Fire Authority’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Response Program to combat wildfires.An Affordable Orange County

In the State Assembly, I’m working to: lower utility costs and ensure a stable power grid; encourage innovation and entrepreneurship to create jobs; build housing and lower barriers to home ownership.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In the State Assembly, I’m fighting to:

Lower utility costs and ensure a stable power grid. Encourage innovation and entrepreneurship to create jobs.

Build housing and lower barriers to home ownership.

Keep neighborhoods safe and ensure fast 911 response times.

Reduce homelessness with a focus on mental health.

Responsibly manage our state budget and prevent tax increases.

My leadership has been recognized with awards from a wide range of organizations, including CalAsian Chamber of Commerce, Orange County United Way, Orange County Taxpayers Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Sierra Club California.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

My campaign has been endorsed by local firefighters, teachers, police officers, nurses, and small business owners.

For a full list, visit my website:

https://cottie.com/endorsements/

Cottie Petrie-Norris did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Cottie Petrie-Norris did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Candidate Conversations

Moderated by journalist and political commentator Greta Van Susteren, Candidate Conversations is a virtual debate format that allows voters to easily get to know their candidates through a short video Q&A.

Click below to watch the conversation for this race.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I ran for State Assembly 2018 because our district was getting shortchanged in Sacramento.

Over the course of my first term, I've secured millions of dollars in funding for projects in our district and introduced important legislation to combat climate change and help local businesses. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I've been working around the clock to help laid-off workers and vulnerable seniors.

In the Assembly, I serve as Chair of the Accountability and Administrative Review Committee and as Chair of the Select Committee on Student Debt. I also serve on the Assembly's committees for Appropriations, Revenue & Taxation and Veterans Affairs.

I grew up in San Diego County in a hard-working family and am a proud product of Southern California public schools. After working my way through Yale University, where I double-majored in Economics and English, I had a successful career in finance and technology. I helped build businesses and lead teams at Fortune 500 corporations, small companies and start-ups.

I live in Laguna Beach with my husband, Colin, and our two sons Dylan & Hayden and our rescue dog Flounder.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Cottie has the right approach on COVID-19 and she is delivering relief and results for Orange County residents. Cottie is working tirelessly to help our community navigate this crisis - championing legislation to secure emergency supplies of PPE for healthcare workers, writing a law to help small businesses, helping vulnerable seniors, and pushing to expand testing for our Orange County first-responders. Cottie will safely re-open our economy and get people back to work. The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for families, workers and small businesses across Orange County. In the Assembly, Cottie is working to set Orange County and California on the path to recovery. As a businesswoman herself, Cottie understands how to make tough decisions, sacrifice for the future, and invest wisely. Cottie will continue to work with experts so our communities build back safely, and stronger than ever.Cottie has secured millions of dollars in funding for projects in Orange County. Cottie is a local businesswoman who ran for State Assembly in 2018 because our district was getting shortchanged in Sacramento. As our Assemblymember, Cottie has secured our fair share of funding for local projects - including funding for local climate restoration projects, funding to launch the Orange County Fire Authority's innovative FIRIS program and funding to end veteran homelessness in Orange County.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Combating the Climate Crisis

We must act now to safeguard California from the impacts of climate change. In the Assembly, I have fought for legislation to protect our coast from the threat of sea level rise, establish environmental standards stronger than the federal governments and fund renewable energy programs to reduce carbon emissions. I have also led efforts to strengthen California's ability to prevent, combat and recover from devastating wildfires.

Education & Schools

As a product of the California public schools and the mother of two boys currently attending our local public schools, I understand the importance of investing in our education system. In the Assembly, I have prioritized advancing and funding educational programs at every level - from early childhood care to higher education. I supported legislation to expand free preschool enrollment and secured funding for additional seats at UC and CSU schools for California kids. Education is the best investment we can make for the future of California.

Creating Job Opportunities

In the Assembly, I helped pass legislation to assist businesses in rehiring workers and expanding their workforce to bring high-paying jobs to Orange County. Additionally, I am working to incentivize job creation for local communities and to prepare California for the Future of Work. By investing in adult education, workforce development and skills-based re-training, California can leverage our strong economy to help businesses s

Campaign website

Norris' campaign website stated the following:

GOOD SCHOOLS

I am the proud product of Southern California public schools and my two boys attend our local public elementary school. I know that good schools and good teachers are a vital part of our community. I believe that quality public education is the cornerstone of our democracy and one of the most important investments that California can make. In the Assembly, I will support universal preschool; reinvestment in our K-12 public schools and an increased emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs.

GOOD JOBS – TODAY AND TOMORROW

An economy that works for everyone means a workforce that is well trained for good jobs – today and tomorrow. The world is changing rapidly; technology is changing much of what we do and how we do it.

The good news is that Orange County is a technology and innovation hub – and we are well-positioned to succeed in this new world. In the Assembly, I will support programs to prepare Orange County’s workforce for the jobs of tomorrow – helping workers obtain basic technology skills for our thriving technology and bio-medical industries.

AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE

The United States is the only developed, industrialized nation in the world that does not have universal healthcare for its citizens. Yet America spends almost twice as much on healthcare expenses compared to the countries that do provide universal care. Something just isn’t adding up!

I support the goal of universal healthcare – I believe it’s the right thing to do and I believe it’s the smart thing to do. And in the Assembly, I will support efforts to responsibly deliver universal healthcare for California.

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. And we can’t take that for granted. California must continue to lead the way in protecting our environment and safeguarding our planet for future generations.

In the Assembly, I will fight to protect our coastlines; preserve our open spaces; and ensure clean air and water for our communities.

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—Cottie Petrie-Norris' campaign website (2018)[4]