Capitol Spotlight: Ray LeBov

Ray LeBov is well known around the Capitol—not just for his prowess as a lobbyist and former legislative counsel but also for his kindness, generosity and joy he brings everywhere he goes. Over the last 50 years, he has shaped the lobbying community, both through his work in the legislature, as a lobbyist and as a mentor to thousands of advocates.

Hollywood often portrays lobbyists as collusive dealmakers, but LeBov sees the profession differently. He says it’s not about twisting arms but being prepared, strategic, and honest. Those who work with him or have taken his seminars praise how he approaches lobbying the right way.

“Ray is a shining example of what a lobbyist should be—ethical, honest, straightforward, and always prepared,” Diane Cummins, longtime Capitol budget expert and colleague of Lebov says.

After finishing USC Law School, LeBov made his way to Sacramento to prepare for the bar exam. For LeBov, “timing was everything” when he learned of a position on a joint committee through his study partner and lobbyist for the ACLU. When he arrived, the receptionist told him he was too late. But luck was on his side and he got his interview that day. Two days later, in 1975, he began his career in the California Legislature.

“I’ve always been interested in public policy. When I went to law school, I didn’t really know exactly how I wanted to orient that, but I knew I wanted to be in public policy. I figured law school would give me time to figure it out and give me the tools to be more effective once I did,” LeBov says.

LeBov went on to serve 17 years as counsel to various committees, with 12 of those in the Assembly Judiciary Committee, where he developed a deep understanding of the legislative process and committee dynamics. He attributes his success as a lobbyist to the knowledge and experience he gained during his years in the legislature.

“I found that particularly my time as counsel to the Assembly Judiciary Committee was extraordinarily helpful for lobbying. I learned so many different things at so many different levels—how to deal with committees, how to work with committee staff, how to interact with legislators. That experience was invaluable,” LeBov says.

“Ray is a shining example of what a lobbyist should be—ethical, honest, straightforward, and always prepared.”

His behind-the-curtains experience taught him how power truly moves through the Capitol, from the significance of committee staff in shaping legislation to the strategic moves necessary in moving legislation along. By the time he transitioned to lobbying, he understood not just the written rules but the unwritten ones.

He started Ray LeBov and Associates in 2005, working on behalf of clients like the California Appellate Defense Counsel and California Prison Medical Care Receiver after serving as chief lobbyist for the Judicial Council for 13 years. During his time as chief lobbyist, LeBov played a vital role in California’s shift from a county-funded to a state-funded court system in the early 2000s.

“One of the things we accomplished—something I’m most proud of—was transitioning California to a state-funded court system. That changed everything for the better in terms of stability and access,” LeBov says.

After transitioning to lobbying, LeBov noticed a gap in lobbyists’ education around the Capitol. Recognizing the need for better education, he founded Capitol Seminars in 2006, offering practical training to help new and experienced lobbyists navigate the choppy waters of the Capitol legislative process.

The seminars are widely popular, attracting anyone involved in the Capitol community eager to understand the dos and don’ts of lobbying. Over time, Capitol Seminars has evolved, bringing in experts like Chris Micheli for regulatory agency advocacy and Cummins to cover the beast of budget advocacy. And, unlike traditional lectures, LeBov’s teaching style has been described as engaging, interactive, and focused on real-world strategy.

“I’ve taken a lot of professional development courses, but Ray’s training stood out because it’s so interactive and engaging. He wants you to challenge assumptions and really understand how things work,” says Jaime Rojas of Rojas Communications Group, a long-time friend of LeBov since first taking his seminar 15 years ago.

Even after the seminars end, LeBov is always willing to advise his former students over the phone or at a coffee meeting, often coming to the table with a quip or quote to put them at ease. His open-door policy has garnered him the respect of his colleagues and the credibility to influence the lobbying community positively.

While many know LeBov from his work at the Capitol, he is equally passionate about basketball and the NBA. His love for the game is not intertwined with the drama that comes with some of the highest-paid athletes in the world but in the intricacies of the game itself, much like those you find in lobbying.

When LeBov met with Capitol Weekly for this profile, he had just wrapped up his daily work on Basketball Intelligence where fans can check out the latest NBA news or tune in to podcasts about the Sacramento Kings and more. (He also spoke with Capitol Weekly about it back in 2015.) For LeBov, his coverage of the NBA has only strengthened his relationships with those around the Capitol.

“I looked him up a little bit, and I saw he reports on the NBA,” says Teja Stephens a lobbyist for Catalyst California and a former student of LeBov’s. “But once I saw that the NBA reporting and, of course, all of his experience and legislative acumen that he has built over the years, I thought, ‘OK, this is a perfect fit.’”

These days, LeBov is still teaching with Capitol Seminars, where participants can now experience a customized learning plan tailored to their needs. Lobbyists like Rojas send not just their lobbyists to LeBov, but their support staff as well.

“His legacy is that of education. He’s touched so many people, from beginners to seasoned lobbyists. He’s the go-to person in Sacramento—not just for his teachings, but for his relationships. Ray doesn’t keep his cards close to his chest; he shares knowledge freely and wants others to succeed,” Rojas says.

Leah Lentz is an intern with Capitol Weekly.