Steve Coony

Profile

With more than 40 years’ executive experience in state and local government, Steve Coony is a respected leader in California public policy. He is known for his ability to bring divergent interests together to resolve contentious issues.

Before joining the firm, Steve was chief deputy state treasurer. He also served as chief deputy attorney general and chief of staff to the leader of the state senate.

Steve’s public service career began in 1969, when he became a county welfare worker and union shop steward. He joined the union’s staff in 1972, becoming the union’s general manager and chief negotiator five years later. In the process, Steve built one of the nation’s largest public employee unions.

In 1983, Steve returned to public service, joining the staff of California’s State Senate President Pro Tempore David Roberti. He later became chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Lockyer.

As chief deputy attorney general, Steve managed innovation and investment in new technology. This included a massive scientific and technological scale-up in the use of DNA evidence to solve violent crimes as well as improvements in instantaneous fingerprint recognition and other identification techniques to prevent and prosecute violent crime and identity theft.

In 2007, Steve was appointed chief deputy treasurer by California Treasurer Bill Lockyer. He designed and carried out a strategy that protected the state’s financial assets and credit rating, while financing the greatest expansion of infrastructure investment in California history. This was accomplished during the worst economic recession and state government revenue crisis since the Great Depression.

No stranger to the use of electoral campaign tools, Steve works effectively with most of California’s diverse and often competing policy and political interests, including the business, labor, finance, technology, infrastructure, health and education communities.

Memberships

Treasurer’s Representative, California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration, 2007–2014

Treasurer’s Representative, California State Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Administration, 2007–2014

Founding Board Member, West Coast Infrastructure Exchange, 2011–2014

Treasurer’s Representative, State Budget Cut “Trigger” Commission, 2009

Treasurer’s Representative, California Earthquake Authority, 2007–2009

Attorney General’s Representative, Western States Information Network (WSIN), 1999–2006

Attorney General’s Representative, California Anti-Terrorism Information Center, Governing Board 2001–2006

Campaign Director State Senate Democratic Campaigns, 1994–1997

Senate Democrats’ Representative on State and National Democratic Coordinated Campaigns, 1994–1998

Proposition 25 (Majority Budget Vote) Steering Committee, 2009–2010

Member, International Executive Board, Service Employees International Union, 1980–1983

Member, LA United Way Board of Directors, 1980–1983

Member, LA County Federation of Labor Executive Board, 1978–1983

08.28.19

Manatt Helps Secure Additional Funding for Dependency Counsel in ...

In 2015, Manatt began working with Children’s Law Center of California (CLC), along with various statewide allies, to increase state funding ...
01.24.17

What to Expect From CA’s New Attorney General

The Recorder quoted Manatt’s Steve Coony, a managing director with the firm’s government and regulatory practice, in an article about ...
06.07.16

CA Controller Gets $59M for Failed Payroll System Implementation

Law360 covered Manatt’s successful resolution of California’s dispute with its statewide payroll modernization project vendor over a ...
12.17.14

Manatt Adds Prominent Sacramento Political Advisor Steve Coony

Manatt announced today that Steve Coony is joining the firm’s Government and Regulatory practice as a managing director in the Sacramento office.

05.13.24

Governor Proposes to Overcome $45 billion Budget Deficit

California Governor Gavin Newsom released the “May Revision” to the state budget on Friday . The May Revision, or “May ...
01.16.24

Governor Newsom Proposes California FY 2024–25 Budget

Governor Gavin Newsom this week unveiled his January budget proposal, which authorizes $291.5 billion in spending, significantly less than the $310.9 ...
07.05.23

2023–24 California State Budget Finalized—Health Care Highlights

After around-the-clock weekend negotiations between Democratic legislative leaders and Governor Newsom, working against a looming June 30 ...
06.30.23

2023–24 California State Budget Finalized—At Least for Now

After around-the-clock weekend negotiations between Democratic legislative leaders and Governor Gavin Newsom, working against a looming June 30 ...

02.17.16

Conversations at Manatt, An Insider’s View: How Political Change May ...

On February 17, Manatt will host "Conversations at Manatt, an Insider's View: How Political Change May Affect Your Business in 2016 and ...

02.16.16

Conversations at Manatt, An Insider’s View: How Political Change May ...

On February 16, Manatt will host "Conversations at Manatt, an Insider's View: How Political Change May Affect Your Business in 2016 and ...

Steve Coony

Managing Director

Government and Regulatory

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