Jessica Morse

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Jessica Morse
JMorse-opt (cropped).jpg
Personal details
Born (1982-02-23) February 23, 1982 (age 43)
Pacifica, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Education Principia College (BA)
Princeton University (MPA)
Website Campaign website

Jessica Morse (born February 23, 1982) is an American natural resources manager and politician. Morse has spent her career in public service, having worked in the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the Agency for International Development. She was a Deputy Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. She twice ran for Congress.

Contents

Early life and education

Morse is a fifth-generation Californian. She was born in Pacifica, California, grew up in Carmichael and Gold Run, and lives in Roseville. She graduated from Principia College in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. In 2010 she earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University, with a focus on nuclear non-proliferation and international security. [1] [2] [3]

Career

National security

Morse spent a decade working in national security for the US Defense Department, the US State Department, and the US Agency for International Development.

Natural resource management

In 2019, Morse was appointed to the California Natural Resources Agency as Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildland Resilience. [4] [5] Morse helped secure $2.7 billion in state funding for wildfire resilience, spread over the years 2021 through 2023. [6] [7] David Ackerly, dean of the Rausser College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley, described Morse as the architect of California's wildfire resilience strategy. [8]

In March 2023, in testimony on forest resilience before subcommittees of the California legislature, Morse stated that two fires in 2022 that were modeled to become megafires, the Electra Fire in Amador County and the Oak Fire in Placer County, were successfully contained because they each encountered strategic fuel breaks. [9] [10]

In August 2022, Morse presented an updated forest management plan for the Jackson Demonstration State Forest, a 50,000-acre state-owned redwood forest in Mendocino County, where protests by environmentalists and tribal leaders had brought commercial logging to a halt. [11] [12] [13]

In 2023, Morse was appointed to the U.S. Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, which advises federal agencies on how best to handle wildfires. [14] [15]

Political campaigns

In 2018, Morse ran for Congress as a Democrat in California's 4th congressional district, where she lived before the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, against the Republican incumbent Tom McClintock. [1] McClintock won, 54% to 46%.

In 2024, Morse ran for Congress as a Democrat in California's 3rd congressional district, which after redistricting included her home in Roseville. [16] Her Republican opponent, the incumbent Kevin Kiley, [14] [17] won, 55.5% to 45.5%.

References

  1. 1 2 Bischoff, Bailey (April 25, 2018). "Life of first-time candidate: 16-hour days, piles of paperwork – and enthusiasm". The Christian Science Monitor.
  2. ↑ Office of the Governor (March 29, 2019). "Governor Newsom appoints Jessica Morse Deputy Secretary of Forest Resources Management at the California Natural Resources Agency". YubaNet.
  3. ↑ "CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS TO VISIT SIERRA COUNTY". Sierra Booster. October 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ Bollag, Sophia; Sabalow, Ryan (July 17, 2019). "Gavin Newsom wants to spend 22 percent more on his staff than Jerry Brown did. Here's what he's adding". The Sacramento Bee.
  5. ↑ Smith, Hayley (May 2, 2023). "Wet winter may delay — but not deter — 2023 fire season; 'We must not let our guard down'". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ↑ The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board (February 8, 2024). "The Bee's endorsement for the big 3rd congressional district centers on the Sierra". The Sacramento Bee.
  7. ↑ "Governor Newsom Joins Vice President Harris to Highlight State-Federal Investments and Action to Build Wildfire Resilience". Governor Gavin Newsom. January 21, 2022.
  8. ↑ Public Affairs (July 28, 2023). "Berkeley Talks: Jessica Morse on how we can live with fire". UC Berkeley News.
  9. ↑ "Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation". Digital Democracy. March 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy". Digital Democracy. March 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ Fishman, Kate (August 23, 2022). "Officials announce 'innovative' tribal co-management vision for Jackson Forest". The Mendocino Voice.
  12. ↑ Callahan, Mary (August 22, 2022). "Cal Fire announces 'new vision' for Jackson Forest, reduces cutting of big trees". The Press Democrat.
  13. ↑ Callahan, Mary (March 3, 2022). "For 70 years, a Mendocino County forest has been used to promote logging. Is it time to change its mission?". The Press Democrat.
  14. 1 2 Porter, Jaque (September 12, 2023). "Wildfire specialist Jessica Morse announces candidacy for CA Congressional District 3". FOX40.
  15. ↑ Brassil, Gillian (March 7, 2024). "Republican Kevin Kiley, Democrat Jessica Morse to battle in close November House race". Sacramento Bee.
  16. ↑ Brassil, Gillian (February 27, 2024). "Republican Kevin Kiley faces two challengers in contentious 3rd District primary". Sacramento Bee.
  17. ↑ Hatch, Jenavieve (September 13, 2023). "Democrat Jessica Morse running for Kevin Kiley's California Congressional seat in 2024". The Sacramento Bee.

Further reading

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