Fred Keeley has been the County of Santa Cruz treasurer since Jan. 3, 2005. Twice elected to serve in this role, he is responsible for managing a $650 million public sector investment portfolio.

From 1996 through 2002, Mr. Keeley represented the Monterey Bay area in the California State Assembly, and for four years served as speaker pro tem. During his tenure, he authored the Marine Life Management Act, which the Associated Press calls the “most significant advancement in ocean policy in fifty years.” Mr. Keeley also authored the two largest park and environmental protection bonds in the nation’s history, a total of $4.7 billion. His legislative leadership during the California Energy Crisis is credited with stabilizing electricity prices and electricity supply.

As a staunch supporter of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary since its designation, he naturally became an advocate for the Sanctuary Exploration Center at Santa Cruz. Mr. Keeley serves as chairman of the center’s Capital Campaign Leadership Committee, overseeing a $3 million fundraising campaign for state-of-the-art exhibits to be housed at the center.

Mr. Keeley has been the executive director of the Planning & Conservation League and its foundation; he has served on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors; and he served on the California Resources Secretary’s Expert Panel on Ocean Policy. The University of California at Santa Cruz has established a lecture series in his honor, the Fred Keeley Lectures on the Environment.

He currently serves on the board of directors of: the Sempervirens Fund, California Forward, California Ocean Science Trust, and Working Partnerships USA. He also teaches at San Jose State University, Pacific Collegiate School, and California State University Monterey Bay.

Keeley lives in Santa Cruz with his lovely cat, Olivia.