Legislative Secretary Anthony Williams departing Newsom administration at end of session

Legislative Secretary Anthony Williams, a top aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom who led his office’s engagement with lawmakers, is leaving his post at the end of the month, chief of staff Ann O’Leary announced Thursday.

In an email to staff announcing the departure, O’Leary praised Williams for his work during the Newsom administration’s first two-year legislative session.

“He played an integral part in passing landmark police use-of-force and renter relief laws, as well as wildfire protections, affordable housing starts, charter school reforms, and two responsible, on-time budgets,” she wrote. “The Governor and I have relied on Anthony’s leadership and intelligent counsel to help navigate through these challenging times.”

In her email, she said Williams had taken the job, which involved commuting to Sacramento from his home in Southern California, with the intention of leaving after two years. She said his departure was partly motivated by the start of his children’s school year.

“Anthony also has always been a colleague who is quick to laugh, tell a silly Dad joke (‘What did the fish say when it hit the concrete wall? …. Oh Dam!!’), offer a smile, an inspirational moment or a reassuring word just when any one of us needs it,” she wrote.

His resignation coincides with the end of the legislative session on August 30. After he leaves, O’Leary said special adviser Angie Wei and Chief Deputy Legislative Secretaries Joey Freeman and Stuart Thompson will oversee the bill signing period, when Newsom must take final action on all the bills lawmakers sent him over the year.

O’Leary also announced that Deputy Cabinet Secretary Dan Seeman will leave his job to work for the campaign opposing Proposition 20, a measure that would reinstate harsher punishments for some theft crimes and change parole rules. O’Leary said Seeman had been a valuable adviser on criminal justice issues during his time in the governor’s office.

She also announced the departure of Chongtoua Mouavangsou, who served as Central Valley regional coordinator for external affairs.

This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 10:14 PM with the headline "Legislative Secretary Anthony Williams departing Newsom administration at end of session."