Mark Watts is a highly respected strategist, lobbyist, and public policy expert with more than four decades of leadership in California’s transportation, infrastructure, and governmental systems. As a Lobbyist and Senior Advisor with Dodd & Chaaban Strategies LLC, he brings unmatched expertise in large-scale policy development, legislative strategy, infrastructure finance, and state governance. Mark is widely recognized as one of California’s most influential voices in transportation policy and has played a central role in shaping many of the state’s most significant infrastructure initiatives over the past 30 years.

Before joining Dodd & Chaaban, Mark served as Principal at Watts & Hartmann, LLC, a Sacramento-based firm specializing in legislative and administrative advocacy in transportation policy, project funding, and implementation. In that role, he advised a wide portfolio of clients and provided strategic political guidance, helping direct all aspects of the firm’s work. Prior to founding WH, Mark partnered with D.J. Smith and Will Kempton to operate Smith, Watts & Company, where he delivered lobbying services and managed the day-to-day operations of a firm representing over 35 clients.

Mark’s long tenure influencing California policy includes holding several senior leadership roles in state government. He served as Undersecretary for Transportation at the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency (BT&H), appointed by Governor Pete Wilson. As Undersecretary, he oversaw Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Transportation Commission, providing direct policy guidance to the Governor’s Office and serving as a critical liaison among state agencies, the Administration, and legislative leadership. He also served as Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle, where he spearheaded management of the California State Assembly. Earlier, he was recruited to serve as Co-Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly Rules Committee during the historic bipartisan power-sharing arrangement between Speaker Brown and Republican Leader Jim Brulte.

A veteran of California’s most consequential transportation initiatives, Mark has been instrumental in developing, campaigning for, and implementing several landmark measures. He co-chaired the 2006 Proposition 1B transportation bond campaign. Then, the largest single infusion of transportation funding in state history and played key roles in the successful passage of Proposition 209 (earthquake retrofit bonds) and Proposition 42 (constitutional dedication of the sales tax on motor fuels). Mark also provided critical leadership in the development of the 2017 transportation funding package, Senate Bill 1 (Beall), shaping the framework that ultimately secured its enactment.

Earlier in his career, Mark spent a decade at Caltrans as Executive Assistant to both the Los Angeles District Director and the statewide Director, as well as serving on the Department’s legislative affairs team. He later became Principal Consultant to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, overseeing transportation budget issues and fiscal analysis of major transportation legislation. Over the course of his work, Mark helped advance numerous transformative proposals, including local option sales tax authority for transportation, Bay Bridge financing legislation, expanded contracting authority for Caltrans, California’s early highway privatization efforts, and the 1989 Transportation Blueprint gas tax package.

Mark’s work has earned broad recognition. The Los Angeles Times once described him, alongside longtime partner D.J. Smith, as one of “the biggest consultants and lobbyists on transportation issues in Sacramento.” He is also the recipient of the Mobility 21 Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his decades of leadership in transportation policy. In addition to his professional work, he has been an active community leader, serving as a member of the Placer County Planning Commission.

Mark’s career reflects a deep commitment to public service, thoughtful policymaking, and building the infrastructure that keeps California moving. At Dodd & Chaaban Strategies LLC, he continues to bring his unparalleled experience, strategic insight, and steady leadership to clients navigating California’s most complex policy challenges.