Hellan Roth Dowden

Hellan Roth Dowden has a wealth of experience within the public sector. She has worked for the City and County of San Francisco, other counties, school districts, local public entities known as County Organized Health Systems, and the Local Health Plans of California which is composed of quasi-governmental health agencies in eleven California counties. Ms. Dowden was Staff Director for the State Council of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and served as Director of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. She has also represented private sector clients and trade organizations as well as non-profit agencies. Ms. Dowden's experience includes serving both as the Chief of Staff for the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Director of the Senate Office of the Majority Whip.

During her tenure in the Legislature, Ms. Dowden, in her role as staff to the Senate Majority Whip, staffed bills that made reforms to the Worker's Compensation system that were enacted by the Legislature. Ms. Dowden wrote legislation that allows state and local employees covered by the Public Employees' Retirement System to use their retirement to purchase homes. While employed by the City and County of San Francisco, Ms. Dowden worked closely with the Mayor's staff on legislation affecting Hetch Hetchy. She also wrote landmark legislation for After-School programs and worked on legislation that led to the Employment Training Panel as well as legislation that allows for grey water systems in California.

Ms. Dowden has a long history of involvement in public policy issues in the in the State that involves representing community organizations, local government agencies, cities, and counties on issues that include: taxation, health, and social services issues such as foster care and women's and children's issues. She has also worked on issues involving the green economy and emerging technologies including the use of Public Utilities Commission funds to allow non-profits to obtain subsidized rates for broadband. She is also the co-founder of Teachers for Healthy Kids, a joint project of the California Teachers Association and the California Association of Health Plans that is now its own nonprofit corporation. She has an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Ohio State University and a Masters in Public Health Policy and Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.