Elsa Ortiz, Commissioner

Until her retirement in December 2014, Ms. Ortiz worked as an attorney and policy consultant to former Presidents of the State Senate Don Perata and Darrell Steinberg on issues affecting Indian Nations. She also served as District Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to former California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer during his tenures as State Senator and Attorney General.

Ms. Ortiz earned her bachelor’s degree with honors and teaching credentials from the University of California at Berkeley and her Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy College of Law.

She was elected in November 2006 to the AC Transit Board of Directors representing the City of Alameda and portions of Oakland and San Leandro. During her tenure on the Board, Ms. Ortiz spearheaded the development and adoption of the District’s Buy American Goods policy, advocated for fiscal reform, and works to make sure buses are a key element in the construction of a Bay Area transportation network for the 21st Century.

She served on the Transbay Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors and as Vice-Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission. She is a recipient of the 2018 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) NorCal Chapter “Pioneer Award”, the 2019 COMTO National “Women Who Move the Nation Award”, the 2018 Genesis “Equity Award”, and the 2022 “Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award” from the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) San Francisco – Bay Area Chapter.