Bay Area Council Adds Powerhouse Team to Bolster Housing, State Government Relations Work
Alex Torres and Louis Mirante Bring Deep Connections, Strong Record of Success
Sacramento—The Bay Area Council is excited to announce the addition of two powerhouse leaders to its team who will bolster the organization’s legislative influence in the state capitol and elevate our work to address California’s continuing housing crisis.
Alex Torres joins the Council as Director of State Government Relations based in the Council’s Sacramento office. Louis Mirante joins the Council as Vice President of Public Policy focused on housing, and is also based in Sacramento. Both will report to Matt Regan, Senior Vice President for the Council.
“Alex and Louis are going to be gamechangers for us. We couldn’t be more fortunate or more excited to have them join the team,” Regan said. “Both Alex and Louis are highly respected for their knowledge, experience and effectiveness. They are going to significantly elevate the work the Council is doing across a wide range of policy priorities and amplify our voice in the state’s halls of power.”
Torres brings a deep understanding of California politics and government, strong relationships with legislative leaders and staff and a keen insight into the complex dynamics that define the state’s political environment. In addition to government relations experience, Torres has worked on political campaigns, media relations and public affairs across a range of industries.
“I am extremely excited to bring my energy and experience to the Council’s work in Sacramento tackling some of the biggest policy challenges facing the region and the entire state,” Torres said. “I am honored to be a voice here in the halls of the Capitol for this great organization and our members.”
Mirante is similarly steeped in California politics, with a particular focus on housing. He played an instrumental role in helping guide the meteoric rise of California YIMBY, a statewide housing advocacy and coalition-building organization that in just five years has risen from nothing to one of California’s leading housing policy groups. As legislative director for California YIMBY, Mirante helped craft and win approval for key legislation to boost housing production, hold cities and counties accountable for meeting their housing obligations and ending the grip of anti-housing interests at both the local and state level.
“Few issues are more challenging in California than addressing the housing crisis, and few organizations have been more effective than the Bay Area Council in providing solutions,” Mirante said. “I’ve enjoyed partnering with the Council over the years in advocating for housing reform and I’m really looking forward to now helping lead their efforts.”
Mirante has also held positions with the California Department of Finance, Caltrans and the California Air Resources Board, giving him important experience in the workings of the California’s administrative state. Mirante also serves on the board of the Casita Coalition, a statewide advocacy and policy group the Council helped form to promote the construction of accessory dwelling units.
Prior to joining the Council, Torres served as Senior Director of Government Relations for highly respected advocacy and public affairs firm Strategies 360 and also led research, political outreach and lobbying campaigns for KP Public Affairs. He has a Master of Legal Studies from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. Torres is also a delegate to the California Democratic Party.
