Climate Change & Environment - Capitol Advocacy

Jennifer Roe, a partner with Capitol Advocacy, joined the firm in 2015. As one of Capitol Advocacy’s senior lobbyists, Jennifer’s deep knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process, broad policy background, and strategic communications skills prove invaluable to the firm’s clients.

Jennifer co-leads the firm’s Procurement practice and advocates on behalf of clients within the Healthcare, Climate Change and Energy, and Business and Employer Representation practice areas. She has successfully represented clients in both the Legislature and the Executive Branch, helping them navigate complex legislative and regulatory processes while providing strategic counsel to effectively communicate their priorities. Her relational advocacy approach has led to successful outcomes on challenging issues, including climate change, manufacturing incentives, food and beverage reform and compliance, and healthcare transparency.

With a strong understanding of each client’s policy objectives, Jennifer’s analytical, research, and writing skills ensure timely and relevant updates on issues impacting her clients. In addition to analyzing legislation, she reviews budget proposals, monitors oversight and informational hearings, drafts position letters, and tracks regulatory matters of interest. Jennifer also plays a key role in supporting and implementing the firm’s marketing initiatives.

Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Jennifer worked for several members of the California State Assembly, most recently serving as Capitol Director for the Minority Caucus Chair and Vice-Chair of the Assembly Business & Professions Committee. In that role, she provided strategic counsel, collaborated closely with caucus communications staff, and helped develop and implement effective legislative strategies. Jennifer also worked on a wide range of policy issues, including health and human services budget matters, Proposition 65 reform, manufacturing incentives, workplace flexibility, public safety, and utilities. Her experience as legislative staff enabled her to build strong relationships within both the Legislature and the Administration.

Originally from Sacramento, Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an accounting emphasis, from California State University, Chico. She enjoys mentoring young professionals through SheShares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting women in the Capitol community. Jennifer lives in Roseville with her husband, Kyle, and their two daughters.

Cara Martinson brings more than twenty years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to her work advocating on behalf of clients before the California Legislature and Administration. She has built a reputation for solving complex policy challenges, developing effective legislative and regulatory strategies, and building durable coalitions on issues involving local government, energy, land use, and environmental regulation.

Cara has held several senior government relations leadership roles, including serving as Senior Director of Regulatory and Political Affairs for a national renewable energy developer. In that role, she managed the company’s legislative and regulatory portfolio across ten western states and worked closely with policymakers to advance renewable energy and energy storage projects. Her efforts included facilitating favorable tax policies for energy storage facilities and engaging extensively with California’s Legislature and Administration to promote clean energy development.

Previously, Cara spent more than a decade representing local government interests at the California State Association of Counties. There, she led advocacy efforts on critical environmental, natural resource, and land use issues impacting counties statewide. Her work helped ensure local government priorities were reflected in the development of California’s climate policies, the allocation of greenhouse gas reduction fund resources, wildfire recovery and resilience efforts, and the passage of Proposition 64 and subsequent cannabis regulatory framework.

Cara began her career in Sacramento working to protect California’s natural landscapes, managing government affairs for a national nonprofit land trust. In addition to her experience at the state level, she brings significant local land use perspective, having volunteered nearly a decade as an appointed County Planning Commissioner. In that capacity, she reviewed and approved development proposals and helped shape land use decisions affecting the Sacramento region.

Cara earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and French from San Diego State University and holds a master’s degree in politics from Brandeis University. Outside of the office, she is an avid traveler and adventurer and is often planning her next trip, whether camping in the Sierras or exploring a new country. Cara lives in Sacramento’s Curtis Park neighborhood with her family.