Dave Cortese’s public life has included service with the East Side Union High School District, the San Jose City Council, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and regional transportation and government organizations. He spent eight years as a school trustee, eight years as a San Jose councilmember and vice mayor, and 12 years as a county supervisor before serving in the California Senate. His leadership positions have included board presidencies and chairmanships involving schools, transportation, county government and regional associations. He also ran for San Jose mayor, winning the primary before losing the general election to District 3 councilmember Sam Liccardo. His career has encompassed elected office and leadership roles in local, county, regional and state institutions.
ROOTS
David Dominic Cortese was born June 3, 1956. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory from 1970 to 1974, received his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and attended Lincoln Law School from 1991 to 1995.
Public office was already present in the family. His father, Dominic L. Cortese, served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and in the California Assembly. His maternal grandfather, Ed Donovan, was a Santa Clara city councilman in 1949 and 1950. His paternal grandfather, Vince Cortese Sr., was an immigrant farmer from Sicily.
Cortese’s professional experience has included agriculture, property, construction and law. In 1986, following work as a professional financial manager, he became general manager for a collection of ranching and real estate enterprises. His work has also included the sale of agricultural produce, stewardship of a real estate portfolio, construction, ownership of a dining establishment and a private law practice. Cortese and his wife, Pattie, have four children.
THE LOCAL LADDER
Cortese served eight years on the East Side Union High School District board, including service as board president. The school board was one of several local institutions in which he held office.
He also served for eight years as a San Jose councilmember and vice mayor. His 12 years on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors included a term as board president. His record therefore includes service in a school district, a city and a county.
Cortese ran for San Jose mayor and won the primary, then lost the general election to Sam Liccardo, then the District 3 councilmember. His other leadership positions have included roles in county and regional institutions and the chairmanship of a California Senate committee.
THE GOVERNING MAP
Cortese’s leadership positions include several transportation and regional government bodies. He chaired the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and served as president of the Valley Transportation Authority. He also served as president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Santa Clara County Cities Association. Those roles included leadership positions in transportation agencies and associations of regional and local governments.
Cortese is also the founder of the Joint Policy Collaborative for Economic Development. Outside his government roles, he was president of the San Jose East-Evergreen Rotary Club and served on the boards of the East Valley YMCA, The Tech Interactive, Parents Helping Parents and several other nonprofits. He is also a founding member of East Valley Girls Softball.
These positions document work in elected bodies, transportation agencies, government associations and community organizations.
THE POLICY SIGNATURE
At the state level, Cortese chairs the California Senate Labor, Public Employment & Retirement Committee.
His broader record includes transportation agencies, regional organizations, schools, economic development and county government. He chaired the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and served as president of the Valley Transportation Authority. He also served as president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Santa Clara County Cities Association. His eight years with the East Side Union High School District and 12 years on the county Board of Supervisors add school and county government to that record.
His listed leadership roles span labor, public employment and retirement, schools, transportation, county government, regional and local government associations, and community organizations.
- State Senate · Senate District 15 · 2020–present
Dave Cortese’s public life has included service with the East Side Union High School District, the San Jose City Council, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and regional transportation and government organizations. He spent eight years as a school trustee, eight years as a San Jose councilmember and vice mayor, and 12 years as a county supervisor before serving in the California Senate. His leadership positions have included board presidencies and chairmanships involving schools, transportation, county government and regional associations. He also ran for San Jose mayor, winning the primary before losing the general election to District 3 councilmember Sam Liccardo. His career has encompassed elected office and leadership roles in local, county, regional and state institutions.
ROOTS
David Dominic Cortese was born June 3, 1956. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory from 1970 to 1974, received his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and attended Lincoln Law School from 1991 to 1995.
Public office was already present in the family. His father, Dominic L. Cortese, served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and in the California Assembly. His maternal grandfather, Ed Donovan, was a Santa Clara city councilman in 1949 and 1950. His paternal grandfather, Vince Cortese Sr., was an immigrant farmer from Sicily.
Cortese’s professional experience has included agriculture, property, construction and law. In 1986, following work as a professional financial manager, he became general manager for a collection of ranching and real estate enterprises. His work has also included the sale of agricultural produce, stewardship of a real estate portfolio, construction, ownership of a dining establishment and a private law practice. Cortese and his wife, Pattie, have four children.
THE LOCAL LADDER
Cortese served eight years on the East Side Union High School District board, including service as board president. The school board was one of several local institutions in which he held office.
He also served for eight years as a San Jose councilmember and vice mayor. His 12 years on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors included a term as board president. His record therefore includes service in a school district, a city and a county.
Cortese ran for San Jose mayor and won the primary, then lost the general election to Sam Liccardo, then the District 3 councilmember. His other leadership positions have included roles in county and regional institutions and the chairmanship of a California Senate committee.
THE GOVERNING MAP
Cortese’s leadership positions include several transportation and regional government bodies. He chaired the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and served as president of the Valley Transportation Authority. He also served as president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Santa Clara County Cities Association. Those roles included leadership positions in transportation agencies and associations of regional and local governments.
Cortese is also the founder of the Joint Policy Collaborative for Economic Development. Outside his government roles, he was president of the San Jose East-Evergreen Rotary Club and served on the boards of the East Valley YMCA, The Tech Interactive, Parents Helping Parents and several other nonprofits. He is also a founding member of East Valley Girls Softball.
These positions document work in elected bodies, transportation agencies, government associations and community organizations.
THE POLICY SIGNATURE
At the state level, Cortese chairs the California Senate Labor, Public Employment & Retirement Committee.
His broader record includes transportation agencies, regional organizations, schools, economic development and county government. He chaired the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and served as president of the Valley Transportation Authority. He also served as president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Santa Clara County Cities Association. His eight years with the East Side Union High School District and 12 years on the county Board of Supervisors add school and county government to that record.
His listed leadership roles span labor, public employment and retirement, schools, transportation, county government, regional and local government associations, and community organizations.
The record
5,007 events, each with its sourceAssembly 3rd Reading AB2664 Bauer-Kahan et al. By Becker
Assembly 3rd Reading AB2664 Bauer-Kahan et al. By Becker Reconsider
Assembly 3rd Reading AB2664 Bauer-Kahan et al. By Becker
Assembly 3rd Reading AB2689 Ávila Farías et al. By Caballero
Assembly 3rd Reading AB2713 Wicks et al. By Becker
Assembly 3rd Reading AB2779 Irwin By Allen Urgency Clause
Assembly 3rd Reading AB2782 JUD. (Kalra) By Umberg
Assembly 3rd Reading ACA7 Jackson et al. By Weber Pierson
Special Consent SB96 Umberg
Unfinished Business SB239 Arreguín Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB299 Cabaldon et al. Concurrence
That the Assembly amendments be concurred in
Unfinished Business SB490 Umberg et al. Concurrence
Special Consent SB505 Richardson
Unfinished Business SB549 Allen et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB594 Padilla et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB667 Archuleta Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB700 Grayson Concurrence
That the Assembly amendments be concurred in
Unfinished Business SB747 Wiener et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB758 Umberg et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB769 Caballero et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB772 Cabaldon et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB802 Ashby et al. Concurrence
Special Consent SB837 Reyes
Special Consent SB845 Pérez et al
Unfinished Business SB849 Weber Pierson et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB894 Allen et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB913 Becker et al. Concurrence
Special Consent SB916 Ashby
Unfinished Business SB920 Archuleta Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB923 Becker Concurrence
Special Consent SB936 Blakespear et al
That the Assembly amendments be concurred in
Special Consent SB955 Blakespear et al. Urgency Clause
Unfinished Business SB959 Grayson et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence
Special Consent SB965 Blakespear et al
Special Consent SB971 Choi et al
Special Consent SB973 Becker et al
Special Consent SB974 Seyarto
Unfinished Business SB983 Weber Pierson Concurrence
Special Consent SB993 Ochoa Bogh et al
Unfinished Business SB996 Padilla et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB1000 Becker Urgency Clause Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB1004 Wiener et al. Concurrence
Special Consent SB1017 Reyes et al
Unfinished Business SB1024 Menjivar et al. Concurrence
Special Consent SB1047 Niello et al
Unfinished Business SB1048 Becker et al. Concurrence
Unfinished Business SB1051 Menjivar et al. Concurrence