Biography

Senator Fran Pavley is a native Angelino and grew up in Sherman Oaks. She has spent her lifetime living and working in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties as a parent, an educator and a community leader. She lives with her husband Andy, a veteran and life-long teacher, in Agoura Hills where they raised two children and four guide dogs.

She received her Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning at CSU Northridge, taught middle school for 28 years and completed her teaching career in Moorpark, California.  Senator Pavley was actively engaged in many community activities and she became a leader in the effort to incorporate the community of Agoura Hills as a city.

In 1982, she was the first mayor of the City of Agoura Hills, where she served four terms as mayor and as a councilmember (1982-1997). In 2000, she was elected to the California State Assembly where she served three terms. In 2008, Senator Pavley was elected to the California Senate where she represents approximately 931,000 people in the 23rd district which includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

  • She was instrumental in the successful acquisition of Ahmanson Ranch in Eastern Ventura County and King Gillette Ranch in Los Angeles County. She also helped to secure funding to acquire and develop Legacy Park in Malibu.
  • For more than 30 years Senator Pavley has worked with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to acquire and protect open space, develop trails and public access to lands throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
  • Senator Pavley secured funds for many local transportation projects including the construction of the Orange Line busway; installation of traffic signals in San Fernando Valley; heads the Pacific Coast Highway Task Force and has worked with the CHP to coordinate funding to reduce DUI’s on Highway 101.
  • Senator Fran Pavley created the Valley Advisory Council, which is comprised of business and community leaders from the San Fernando Valley, meeting regularly on issues affecting the Valley.
  • She is actively organizing community support to keep Los Encinos State Park open after the state budget called for many parks throughout California to be closed.
  • Senator Pavley is leading the state efforts to secure funding for revitalizing the Los Angeles River through the San Fernando Valley.    

Senator Pavley’s top priorities include the economy, education, transportation, energy and the environment. Senator Pavley has been fighting for public safety reforms on issues including cracking down on elder abuse, sexual predators and domestic violence. Last year, Senator Pavley authored a new law improving California’s business climate by implementing regulatory reform. This bill requires agencies to more rigorously assess the economic impacts, including the benefits of major regulations before they are adopted.  

Some of Senator Pavley’s legislative victories in the Senate include laws stiffening penalties for mortgage fraud; banning cadmium in children’s jewelry; and economic development through creating new clean energy jobs.  She also worked with Los Angeles business leaders and community leaders to speed approval for the construction of a new downtown Los Angeles sports stadium which is creating new jobs without sacrificing environmental protections.

Senator Pavley currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. In addition, Senator Pavley is a member of the following Senate committees: Energy, Utilities and Communications; Transportation and Housing as well as Environmental Quality.

In 2000, Senator Pavley was elected to the California Assembly where she served three terms. During her time in the Assembly, Senator Pavley authored a variety of reforms benefitting Californians. Some examples include establishing a property tax postponement program for seniors and the disabled; protecting consumers from identity theft on credit applications; protecting children in licensed child care facilities and ensuring the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases.

She also authored landmark laws combating climate change by capping greenhouse gas emissions in California. Those laws, AB 32 and AB 1493, have become models for other states and nations.  In 2010 the president implemented national clean car regulations, modeled on AB 1493 (Clean Car Regulations), also known as the "Pavley law." During a special ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, the president personally thanked Senator Pavley for her work on creating a clean, safe, secure energy future for California and the United States.

Senator Pavley has received numerous awards for her commitment to protecting the people of California and preserving the places they hold dear.

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