Energy and Climate Change - Capitol Advocacy

John Latimer

As managing partner and founder of Capitol Advocacy, John Latimer is recognized year after year as one of Sacramento’s most influential lobbyists. Known for his strength in strategic planning and coordinating lobbying campaigns, John’s ability to shape and deliver messaging in a clear and convincing manner gets results for clients. This talent has allowed John to build Capitol Advocacy into one of the most successful lobbying firms in Sacramento.

John co-leads two of Capitol Advocacy’s practice areas; Energy and Climate Change as well as Business and Employer Representation. John is also actively engaged with the full team of ten lobbyists and two legislative analysts as they help clients participate in the most important marketplace in the Country while navigating the nation’s most complex and politicized legislative and regulatory environment.

John began his career working for the California State Legislature, spending time working for Democrats in both the Senate and the Assembly, rising to the positions of Chief of Staff and Chief Consultant. During the first decade of his career, John also helped guide multiple campaigns for the Assembly Democrats. In 1998, John decided to return home and run for a Northern California State Assembly seat, narrowly losing in the Democratic primary by just a few hundred votes. Although this signaled the closing of one chapter working within the State Legislature for John, it was a catalyst for his lobbying career and the creation of Capitol Advocacy.

Twenty-five years later, Capitol Advocacy is one of the largest and most successful lobbying firms in Sacramento. During that time, John has been a power player in some of California’s thorniest legislative fights including energy and environmental issues, internet gaming, alcohol regulation, soft drink tax and labeling issues, and water policy. Consistently ranked as one of Capitol Weekly’s “Top 100”, a list of California’s top political players, John has successfully sheparded clients through term limits, budget deficits, and new administrations.

John’s network of relationships stretch beyond California’s political landscape and reach across the United States. John’s connections to Fortune 500 company executives, elected officials, particularly in Congress, and government officials across the United States is an asset for all of the firm’s clients.

John received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from California State University, Sacramento. He lives in Sacramento with his wife Kelly and the two are proud parents to three daughters.

Jennifer Roe

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.

Marc Aprea

Marc Aprea has political and legislative expertise in areas that include alcoholic beverages, energy, franchising, information technology, local government, procurement, solid and hazardous waste, sports and entertainment, technology, state budget, taxation, and transportation. Aprea has provided advice and advocacy for various interests in California at the state and local level for more than 45 years. Marc began his career running the Northern California public opinion survey operation on the successful 1974 gubernatorial campaign of Jerry Brown.

Aprea later was an advance man on the 1980 presidential campaign of Jerry Brown and the 1984 presidential campaign of Vice-President Walter Mondale. From 1980 to 1998, Aprea served in a variety of government relations capacities with the International Franchise Association, The Southland Corporation (owners and operators of 7-Eleven convenience stores) and with Browning-Ferris Industries (a leading provider of solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal services). Throughout the years, Marc has successfully developed and implemented political and legislative strategies that resulted in the enactment of legislation for the benefit of his clients. Marc lives in Sacramento with his wife Sharon. They have twin 28-year-old children, Brooke and Alex.

Chris Zgraggen

Chris rejoined Capitol Advocacy in January of 2025, after spending two years at a boutique lobbying firm in Sacramento. Prior to that, Chris spent five years at Capitol Advocacy. Chris has dedicated his time at the firm to providing clients with key information and advocacy to help them succeed.

Whether it is sponsoring a bill, or supporting/opposing other legislation, Chris does all he can to achieve his client desired results. Through relationship building and strategic planning, Chris uses his high level of written and verbal communication skills to effectively advocate for his clients. In addition, his experience in with State Budget analysis provides clients with important insight on state spending.

Over the course of his experience in the private sector Chris has become familiar with a wide array of issue areas. Previously, Chris worked for three years in the California State Assembly for several Assemblymembers, including a Central Valley Member who served as the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. His time as a legislative staffer afforded him the opportunity to become well versed in the legislative process, gain familiarity with multiple issue areas, and be an active participant in policy development.

Chris has a proven track record for working in a strategic manner with Members and committees in order to advance legislation. During his tenure in the Legislature, he also found creative ways to advance his Member’s priorities, including leveraging the sunset review process and the budget process. His experience as a legislative staffer helps him to advise to clients how legislators and staff think and are likely to engage on legislation. Other issues that he has previously engaged in include, but are not limited to, solid waste and recycling, electric vehicle charging, energy, sports and entertainment, housing, employer issues, information technology, privacy, financial services, and local government. Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California Davis and also holds a Master in Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. He lives in Elk Grove with his wife Erin, and their children, Rhiannon, Camila, and Chance.

Cara Martinson

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.