Partner
California Strategies, LLC
John Benton is a determined advocate for his clients in the halls and hearing rooms of California's State Capitol and with the state's many regulatory agencies. This same commitment carries over into his development of winning strategies for clients who are pursuing state and local government contracts, procurements and public-private partnerships. Over the course of his career, John has provided strategic consulting and legislative lobbying services for business clients and non-profits on issues relating to the state budget, education, early childhood development, health care, civil litigation, construction, environmental protection, insurance, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, taxation, workers' compensation and occupational safety.
Prior to joining California Strategies, Benton was one of the founding partners of Government Strategies Inc. (GSI), a successful lobbying, government affairs and procurement firm located in Sacramento, California.
Earlier, he served as a regulatory and legislative counsel in the corporate legal departments of three large, national insurers: CNA Insurance Companies, Transamerica Insurance Group and CIGNA. For these industry giants, his work included directing the organization’s legislative and regulatory interests in all 50 states; helping to defeat industry-threatening statewide ballot initiatives; and serving as a chief compliance and enforcement negotiator with state insurance regulators.
Upon graduation from Drake University Law School in 1983, he began his career as a staff attorney in the Iowa Department of Insurance. During his years with the department, he prosecuted agents and companies, handled consumer issues, served as an administrative hearing officer, and advocated departmental positions in the Iowa Legislature.
Benton lives in Sacramento with his wife of 35 years and has three grown children. Over the span of his career, he has participated and chaired a number of local and national philanthropic, school, sports, and professional organizations.