February 8, 2022: SACOG is proud to announce the promotion of Christina Lokke to the role of director of legislative and external affairs. Brought on board as SACOG’s policy manager in 2017, Lokke has helped shape how the agency engages with policymakers at the state and federal levels to ensure better policies and funding opportunities for the region. She was instrumental in the development of the Green Means Go program and the relationships at the state capital needed to secure $38 million for the project. This is just one example of how Lokke is leading strategic policy engagement to accelerate projects in the region.

“I am excited to build a team that will strengthen SACOG’s relationships with member cities and counties,” shared Lokke. She believes it is crucial for everyone to work together and said her team is “focused on improving the region’s competitive edge through programs that will increase jurisdictions’ capacity to capture state and federal grants.”

Lokke has spent more than a decade in legislative affairs for the public sector in California. Prior to SACOG, she worked as a legislative representative for the California Special Districts Association and for the California State Assembly. She joined SACOG eager to shape the new role for the agency and to make an impact at a local level.

“Influencing means we’ll be able to help cities produce more infill development because we can advocate for better state laws that support those policies. We’re going to coordinate more with state agencies to ensure funding guidelines make sense for our region. That doesn’t happen on its own.” -Christina Lokke, director of legislative and external affairs

Boosting the competitiveness of the region includes influencing policymakers and funding agencies to ensure funding opportunities are written with the area’s unique needs in mind. “Influencing means we’ll be able to help cities produce more infill development because we can advocate for better state laws that support those policies. We’re going to coordinate more with state agencies to ensure funding guidelines make sense for our region. That doesn’t happen on its own,” said Lokke.

The successful allocation of state funding for Green Means Go is a great example of what can be done when jurisdictions and policymakers find common goals and come together to support regional implementation. Lokke is determined to improve how SACOG’s 28 city and county members coordinate on priorities. So, when funding becomes available from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other programs, cities and counties will be exceptionally positioned for awards.

It’s going to take time, concentrated effort, and collaboration, and Lokke is up for the challenge. She is building systems and policy capacity with her new team to improve opportunities for SACOG’s member jurisdictions.