Cynthia Bryant, Director

Cynthia Bryant serves as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of Planning and Research for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She advises the Governor on the state budget, redistricting, political reform and gambling. As Director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR), she oversees the State Clearinghouse, the OPR Legislative and Policy and Research units and the Office of the Small Business Advocate.

Ms. Bryant also serves on several state boards and commissions. She is a member of the Commission on State Mandates, which determines reimbursements and adjudicates claims regarding state-mandated programs for local entities. She is also a nonvoting member of the Housing Finance Agency Board, which works to create affordable rental housing and assist first-time homebuyers in achieving the dream of homeownership.

In addition, Ms. Bryant sits on the Governor's Prevention Advisory Council which coordinates the State's strategic efforts to reduce the incidence and prevalence of inappropriate alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by youth and adults, and the Environmental Justice Inter Agency Working Group.

She previously served the Governor as Chief Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary. In that role, she was responsible for moving the Governorís legislative agenda, advising the Governor on all pending legislation and issues before the legislature and working with over 70 agencies and departments on legislative matters. She was one of the lead negotiators for the Governor on his landmark Workers Compensation reform.

Prior to joining the administration, Ms. Bryant was the policy director for the Senate Republican Caucus. She managed the Senate Republican Policy staff, advised Republican senators on pending legislation and was Republican consultant for the Senate Elections and Reapportionment Committee. Prior to joining the Senate, Ms. Bryant was legal counsel to the Assembly Republican Caucus, advising staff and Members on a wide-range of issues including employment, use of state resources and particularly the Political Reform Act. Ms. Bryant was legal counsel to the Assembly Rules Committee when Republicans held the Assembly majority in 1996. Prior to her service with the Assembly, Ms. Bryant was Vice President and Media Services Director for the national political consulting firm of Russo Marsh + Raper, Inc. In 1994, she directed the media placement campaign for George Patakiís successful campaign for New York Governor, among others.

Ms. Bryant received her juris doctor from University of California Hastings College of the Law and her B.A. from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.