Rising Stars: Judy Yee, office of Assemblymember Luz Rivas

At the same time as she advances in her career, Judy Yee is focused on bringing up those behind her.

Yee, the 31-year-old legislative director for Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley), makes mentoring a top priority. “I really enjoy helping build a team,” she said. “I want to invest back into them and I love seeing them grow.”

It makes her sad when she sees others in the Capitol neglecting to properly train their employees. “I see young staff not feeling appreciated and feeling defeated,” she said “I also see young staff not humble and trying to get to the top. But how do you lead a team if you don’t have a foundation?”

Yee said she likes to help less experienced employees by taking them to meetings and asking them questions afterward about what they saw and what they noticed. A discussion follows about why actions were taken or not taken. In the end, mentoring sessions like this benefit everyone involved. “I learn from them just like they learn from me,” Yee said.

As legislative director, Yee tracks bills and makes recommendations on how to vote. She manages a legislative team and coordinates with the communications director on how to convey legislative actions to the public. She also provides strategic advice to Rivas.

“I see young staff not feeling appreciated and feeling defeated. I also see young staff not humble and trying to get to the top. But how do you lead a team if you don’t have a foundation?”

Bill Wong, a political consultant with three decades of experience who was a senior political adviser to former California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, said he is impressed with Yee’s dedication to public service. “She has managed to stay focused and substantive in an increasingly chaotic and superficial environment,” he said. “She is thorough, thoughtful, strategic, asks all the right questions, and is an outstanding coworker that is intensely loyal and actively supports her colleagues both on and off the clock. If I were still in the building, she’d be the first person I’d recruit for my team.”

One of Yee’s proudest achievements was working with Rivas on her 2022 resolution encouraging cities to repeal bans on cruising and to recognize that slowly driving around town with your friends holds cultural significance for many people. The resolution ultimately led to the approval of the Cruising is Not a Crime bill, signed this fall into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Now, cruising is legal across California.

Yee said she was surprised how much support there was for cruising, which was banned in the 1980s in many places because of concerns about traffic congestion and gang activity. Many people from both parties came out to support cruising.

“There was such momentum for it,” Yee said. “People really care about this.”

The hardest part about her job is explaining to the community why some projects can’t be funded. “I’ve never been in the position where we’re heading into a $68 billion deficit,” Yee said, adding that challenging discussions will be coming.

Yee grew up in San Francisco and is the child of immigrants from China who worked in restaurants, construction, and the clothing industry. Her parents didn’t speak English and had a lot of distrust of government because of their negative experiences with communism.  Yet, Yee always knew she wanted to work in government. “My goal was to be a woman U.S. president,” she said.

However, she landed in Sacramento at 18 to attend California State University, Sacramento, she wondered for a while whether she should work in state government. “I was shocked at how slow the pace was and I was shocked at how hot it was,” she said.

Since that time, she has adapted to the hot weather and enjoys not having to fight for a parking space.

Yee earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies and then got an internship with Annie Lam, Rendon’s wife, who was setting up a consulting business.

“Judy is an absolute powerhouse,” Lam said. “Her exceptional emotional intelligence, determination, and a spirit that refuses to back down set her apart. Always hungry for knowledge and ready to shoulder additional responsibilities, Judy isn’t merely a rising star; she’s the embodiment of reliability and a catalyst for change.”

Yee went on to work as an intern and, eventually, a legislative aide for Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park). Working with Chau helped her understand how Sacramento works. “Now I’m very strategic in how I move because I had all those pieces of a good foundation,” Yee said.

Yee later got a job with Rivas in 2019 as a senior/legislative aide in 2019 and was promoted to legislative director in 2021. She said she has really enjoyed working with Rivas and her team.

In her free time, Yee enjoys facilitating the API (Asian/Pacific Islander) Staff Academy, which brings in lobbyists, long-time Capitol staffers and others in Sacramento to share their experiences. She also works with the Sacramento Unity program, which encourages and empowers young Black, indigenous and people of color to achieve their dreams.

As to her career goals, Yee is considering options. Rivas is in her last term in the Assembly and Yee isn’t sure what will happen after that.

“Whatever I end up doing, I want to have the ability to create a team and build a team up through mentorship, training and guidance,” she said.