Che Salinas is a special counsel and senior legislative advisor in the government and regulatory practice in the Sacramento office. He advises clients on complex political matters in addition to legal, legislative and fiscal issues across numerous policy areas, including health care, pharmaceutical manufacturing, transportation, public utilities, taxation and energy policy. In this capacity, Che appears before state agencies, regulatory bodies and the California Legislature to advance client objectives. He also advises and collaborates with an array of business industries and trade associations in those efforts.
Prior to joining Manatt, Che worked in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom as senior advisor on business and economic development and as chief deputy of legislative affairs. In the governor’s office, Che recently served as a member of the administration’s COVID response team developing reopening guidelines, and in his role as chief deputy of legislative affairs managed an extensive legislative portfolio including policy and fiscal issues related to the state budget, labor and workforce development, cannabis, taxation, gaming, and licensing boards and commissions.
Che has substantial experience in public policy development and budget/fiscal analysis. He previously worked for the California State Senate in the Office of Ed Hernandez, O.D., providing counsel on regulatory changes, parliamentary issues and Latino Caucus priorities. He also served as staff counsel to Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, where he was responsible for the creation and management of various legislative proposals. As a consultant for the Senate Judiciary Committee, Che drafted bill analyses and provided direction and assistance to legislators and staff on their legislative initiatives.
Che also has the rare distinction of providing counsel to the leader of the California State Senate, President Pro Tem Don Perata. In that role, Che staffed legislation and assisted with member services, including policy and budget communications.
Outside of the State Capitol, Che has provided counsel to both state and local political campaigns, including the coordination of voter protection activities, Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts, and strategic mail programs for the California Democratic Party.