Education: 

University of San Diego, J.D. 
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A.

Biography:

Chad is a nationally recognized leader in election laws and voter rights.

In addition to providing strategic legal advice and advocacy, he has managed and developed campaigns to increase voter rights and participation, to promote and expand California’s non-partisan primary efforts, and to reach out to otherwise ignored and disenchanted voters. Chad was also lead counsel for a consortium of not for profit groups challenging the State of New Jersey’s closed partisan primary system, for which he argued before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and authored the Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Chad developed the voter outreach strategy for California’s successful nonpartisan primary initiative and conducted the campaign to draft a current United States Senator to run for office. Most recently, he authored the City of San Diego's Measure K and manages voter outreach efforts in local, statewide, and national efforts including a major candidate for president of the United States.

In addition to Chad’s experience in political reform, he was the President of the University of San Diego International Arbitration Team where he authored curriculum that became the basis for the school’s first for-credit arbitration program.

Chad was born and raised in San Diego, California where he maintains a home in North Park. He travels regularly to Sacramento and Washington DC.

Professional Affiliations: 

Admitted to practice in California

Civic Affiliations: 

Member, San Diego County Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association

Awards:

New York City Independence Clubs Anti-Corruption Award – 2017
American Association of Political Consultants, 40 Under 40 – 2017 

Publications and Speeches:

Author, Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiff, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD et al v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, Case No. 1:15-cv-01397-TSC, Tanya S. Chutkan presiding. Filed 09/22/2017.

Author, Measure K, Charter Amendment Requiring Run-off Election for the Offices of Mayor, City Attorney and Councilmember. City of San Diego. Filed May 4, 2016. Passed November 8, 2016.

Election Law (2016). Primary Elections and Voting Rights. Guest Lecture for Professor Brian Maienschein. University of San Diego School of Law.

RT America (2016). Guest spokesman for Independent Voter Project. Interview with Lindsay France.

Author, Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiff, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD et al v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, Case No. 1:15-cv-01397-TSC, Tanya S. Chutkan presiding. Filed 08/27/2015.

Author, Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Supreme Court of the United States, BALSAM, MARK, ET AL. V. GUADAGNO, NJ SEC. OF STATE. CaseNo. 15-39, filed July 7, 2015.

Basalm v. Gaudagno, et. al. (2015). Are New Jersey’s Closed Primaries Unconstitutional? Argument before the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. Philadelphia, PA.

Broadband Communities Summit (2015). Rancho Santa Fe: First 10-Gigabit Community. Presenter. Fiber-to-the-Home Council. Austin, TX.

California Nonpartisan Primary Summit (2015). What is Top-Two Really About? Panelist. California Forward and Independent Voter Project. Sacramento, California.

Politicon (2015). Outside the Partisan Narrative: From Election Laws to Journalism. Panelist. Los Angeles, CA.

Author, Complaint for Violations of Individual Voting Rights under United States and New Jersey Constitution, United States District Court of New Jersey, Newark Division, BALSAM et al v. GUADAGNO, CaseNo. 2:14-cv-01388-SRC-CLW, Stanley R. Chesler, presiding. Filed 03/05/2014.

RT America (2014), Guest Spokesman for EndPartisanship.org, Interview with Abby Martin

Law of Democracy (2014), The Constitutionality of Partisan Primaries, Guest Lecturer for Professor Lawrence Claus, University of San Diego School of Law.

Election Law (2014). Are Closed Primaries Constitutional? Guest Lecture for Professor Brian Maienschein. University of San Diego School of Law.

Author, How Do Primary Elections Work? An Overview and Legal Analysis, Source: http://ivn.us/2013/10/22/how-do-primary-elections-work/, October 22, 2013.