CA State Employees Assn > Governance

CSEA President Dave Hart

Dave Hart has never trained for a single job.

Everything he’s learned about work has been at work.

“I had no specific training for my current job with the Department of Water Resources,” he said. “I’ve been there since 1981.”

Hart is the President of the California State Employees Association. Hart was elected president during the 64th General Council in San Jose in October, 2007.

Dave is quick to point out there is no specific training for this job either. So he’s set an agenda, and he’s making sure people are in place to fulfill the goals he has for his tenure as president.

“I want to see unity among all of us at CSEA and our affiliates,” Hart said. “We have a lot of positive momentum right now and I want to see us keep moving forward.”

Hart received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from CSU Chico and a Master of Science degree in Irrigation and Drainage from UC Davis. Two years after graduation, he began working for DWR as a Land and Water Use Analyst.

In 1983, when major layoffs were taking place, Hart was hired to work at what he calls “the best job in the state” with the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program.

“More than 20 people we’re lined up for the job but they picked me,” he said. “They were more impressed with my Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow awards than my college degrees.”

In 1988 Hart became an SEIU Local 1000 union steward. It wasn’t until he represented members in grievances in the early 1990s that he got really involved in union matters.

“I had a general sense of obligation for getting involved and that’s why I did it,” he said. “But I wasn’t very active until those grievances put me right in the middle of things.”

In 1999, Hart joined the Unit 11 bargaining team for Local 1000. He was a key member in negotiating contracts for Local 1000 members.

Hart sees a bright future for CSEA. One with a shared vision and a coalition working together on common goals for state workers. He understands the responsibility riding on his shoulders.

“I’ve got two years to fix some obviously broken things at CSEA as well as get something bigger off the ground and it’s a huge challenge,” he said. “I’m mindful of the people who didn’t vote for me and I want to make sure I take address their concerns.”

Dave and his wife Joycelyn live in Davis. They have two sons, who are artists. Ian, 30, is a visual artist and contract museum preparator in New York. Max, 32, is a musician based in Los Angeles.

Vice President Donna Snodgrass

Donna Snodgrass was elected CSEA Vice President at the association’s 63rd General Council in October 2005. Among her duties is monitoring the activities of CalPERS and keeping members informed about retirement and other benefits.

Donna has been in state service for more than 30 years. She has served in a variety of positions with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including personnel and telecommunications, and has worked as a seasonal firefighter.

She joined CSEA in 1981 and has been active in Local 1000 bargaining units 1 and 4. She has been very successful in helping members win grievances, defend against adverse actions, and negotiate worksite agreements.

Donna was born in Birmingham, AL, and raised in Fontana, CA. She attended Chaffey Community College, where she was enrolled in the school’s Fire Science program. She has also earned credits in Public Administration at the CDF Fire Academy in Ione.

Her husband Ray was Chief Deputy Director of CDF when he retired in 2004. They live in Yucaipa. They have three children: Gregg, Beverly and Richard.

Vice President Donna Snodgrass

Donna Snodgrass was elected CSEA Vice President at the association’s 63rd General Council in October 2005. Among her duties is monitoring the activities of CalPERS and keeping members informed about retirement and other benefits.

Donna has been in state service for more than 30 years. She has served in a variety of positions with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including personnel and telecommunications, and has worked as a seasonal firefighter.

She joined CSEA in 1981 and has been active in Local 1000 bargaining units 1 and 4. She has been very successful in helping members win grievances, defend against adverse actions, and negotiate worksite agreements.

Donna was born in Birmingham, AL, and raised in Fontana, CA. She attended Chaffey Community College, where she was enrolled in the school’s Fire Science program. She has also earned credits in Public Administration at the CDF Fire Academy in Ione.

Her husband Ray was Chief Deputy Director of CDF when he retired in 2004. They live in Yucaipa. They have three children: Gregg, Beverly and Richard.

Secretary-Treasurer David Okumura

David Okumura is someone you want to invite out to dinner.

If not for the conversation, he’ll at least figure out the bill before the check arrives.

“I’ve always been a numbers person -- I guess I have a photographic memory when it comes to numbers,” Okumura said. “That’s why I got into accounting -- it made sense to me.”

Okumura was elected Secretary-Treasurer of CSEA at the 64th General Council in San Jose. He says it’s his opportunity to give back to others and serve state workers.

“I’ve been with the state for 30 years and gained a lot of accounting and auditing experience,” he said. “I can use that experience to benefit everybody in CSEA.”

David received a Bachelors degree in accounting from CSU Los Angeles. In 1978, he joined the Employee Development Department as a tax auditor and later moved to the Department of Social Services as general auditor.

In 1986, Okumura joined the Department of Insurance as an associate Insurance Examiner. Labor issues became part of life when he started.

“There were pay raises going out to examiners in other departments but not mine,” he said. “That’s when I got involved in the bargaining side of the union.”

David joined the SEIU Local 1000 Unit 1 Bargaining team. On the bargaining team he met current CSEA President Dave Hart. He also served as a Local 1000 DLC president from 1999-2000.

Okumura is a member of the Association of California State Supervisors and currently serves as senior insurance examiner for the DOI.

David says he enjoys challenges and that’s one of the reason’s he ran for secretary/treasurer. He says he instantly felt the change in his life with his new position.

“The idea of having all of this responsibility -- it’s a daunting task,” he said. “Being a middle supervisor, I’m used to carrying out what comes down from the decision makers -- now I’m participating as one of those decision makers.”

Okumura says CSEA has a very exciting future ahead, but he wants to see more empowerment for the state workers. He wants the workers to be proud of the work they do and not be ashamed or apologetic to say they work for the state.

“We have to make state work a more positive environment,” he said. “In the past politicians, newspapers and the public have portrayed state workers in a negative manner and they erroneously started to believe it -- we need to make sure their job is fulfilling.”

Okumura says we need state employees to be proud members of CSEA and their respective affiliates through services, benefits, education and unity.

David and his wife Cora live in North Hills. They have three sons.