District Staff
San Luis Obispo Office
Kara Woodruff
Kara Woodruff is a thirty-year+ resident of San Luis Obispo and a business graduate of Cal Poly SLO. She is an attorney, financial planner, and mom. She received a joint JD/MA degree in law and public policy from Duke University. As a former project director for national non-profits, Kara negotiated and raised funds for the conservation of over 100,000 acres in SLO County, including Hearst Ranch and in the Carrizo Plain. She is a member of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel and an author of the panel’s Strategic Vision. She currently serves as Senator Laird's District Director and Senior Policy Advisor.
Clint Weirick
Clint Weirick was born and raised in Grover Beach in San Luis Obispo County where he is proud to continue serving his community as a Councilmember and on the Senator's team as Senior District Representative. He brings to the team his years of extensive community involvement in many civic, educational, business, and nonprofit organizations, while graduating from many highly respected local programs such as Leadership San Luis Obispo Class 26, Leadership South County Class 1, and Leadership North County Class 1.
Monterey Office
Justin Tran
Justin is the Press Secretary & Deputy District Director for Senator Laird. Prior to his current role, he served as a Constituent Affairs Representative for Governor Gavin Newsom managing the Government Operations Agency & Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency portfolio. Before his work for the administration, he was a Government Relations Coordinator at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies from Sonoma State University, with a focus in economic, political, and social development. Justin enjoys having the travel bug and has previously spent time living abroad in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany.
Isabel Meza
Isabel grew up in South Monterey County and is a political science graduate from UCSD with an emphasis in public law. She also holds a minor in law and society. Isabel currently serves as the Senior District Representative for Monterey County. Previously, she gained experience working as a Field Representative for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and served as an intern for Asm. Wendy Carrillo. Additionally, she has actively contributed as a member of the Measure S committee for the City of Soledad. Outside of work, Isabel enjoys running, hiking, and being in nature.
Marisa Hernandez
Marisa Hernandez is a Salinas native and the daughter of farmworkers. Prior to joining Senator Laird’s office as a District Representative, she served in a similar role for Senator Anna Caballero for the past five years, where she played a key role in bridging the community and the Senator's office. She is a proud first-generation college graduate, earning her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of California, Merced in 2014, and went on to obtain her Master of Public Administration in 2017. She is also a dedicated advocate for women's rights, actively serving as a member of the Status of Women Commission in Monterey County. Her commitment to public service is grounded in her personal experience and a passion for creating meaningful change in the community.
Santa Cruz Office
Khalida Sarwari
Khalida serves as Senator Laird's Santa Cruz District Representative and Policy Analyst. Originally from Afghanistan, she grew up in the East Bay Area and attended Saint Mary’s College of California, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and History. A trained journalist, her award-winning reporting includes breaking news coverage as well as government, community, and human-interest stories for various media outlets, such as Bay City News Service, Bay Area News Group, and the Mercury News. She worked in communications in Boston before returning to the Bay Area to work as a Press and Policy Aide for Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, word games, yoga, traveling, trying new recipes, and discovering her new hometown of Santa Cruz.
Sergio Zarate
Sergio Zarate works as the Office Assistant in Senator’s Laird Santa Cruz District Office. Sergio is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a B.A in Political Science and an interest in California Politics. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to his 5000 album and counting music collection.
Capitol Staff
Richard Stapler
Richard Stapler is State Sen. John Laird’s Chief of Staff. Stapler brings over 20 years of experience in public affairs and public policy in California. This is Stapler’s second turn working for Sen. Laird, having served as a Deputy Secretary at the California Natural Resources Agency. Just prior to joining Sen. Laird’s office, he helmed public affairs for the California Dental Association. In addition, he has worked for three Speakers’ of the State Assembly, the State Prison Healthcare Receivership, numerous statewide ballot initiatives, and other public affairs efforts. A graduate of CSU, Sacramento, Stapler also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Sacramento Zoo.
Michelle Reyes
Michelle Reyes has a distinguished background in public policy, media relations, public affairs, and public service. She is an avid runner who has completed numerous marathons including the Boston Marathon, a proud UCLA Bruin, and enjoys taking her rescue dog, Zeke, on new adventures. She currently serves as the Senator's Legislative Director.
Tammy Trinh
Tammy is the Policy Analyst in Senator Laird’s office. She most recently worked as a Policy Consultant for Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Bob Hertzberg. Prior to joining the Legislature, she served as Assistant Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary for Governor Gavin Newsom, where she first started as a Legislative Research Assistant. Prior to that, she was a Legislative & Press Aide for then-Lieutenant Governor Newsom. She began her legislative career as a fellow for the American Lung Association and Environment California through the Loveridge Fellowship.
Quincy Stivers
Quincy Stivers is a Legislative Aide in the Office of Senator Laird. She is a Sacramento native and holds a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She enjoys running and playing soccer in her free time and currently serves on the Board of the Environmental Council of Sacramento.
Maunee Cadena
Maunee Cadena is an Office Assistant for Senator Laird's office in Sacramento. She is excited to gain experience in public service by helping the people of the 17th Senate District.
Kimberly Goncalves
Kim Goncalves serves as the Scheduler in the Office of Senator John Laird. She was previously the Senator's scheduler during his tenure as Secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency, where she held various positions since 2008.