Ann Ravel departs Federal Election Commission

WASHINGTON – Ann M. Ravel, who joined the Federal Election Commission in 2013 and served as Chair in 2015, will leave the Commission today. She plans to return to her home state of California.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the American people and to work alongside the wonderful staff at the Commission, who understand the importance of the Commission’s work. The mission of the FEC is essential to ensuring a fair electoral process. It is my strong hope that the values of accountability, transparency, and honesty prevail," said Commissioner Ravel.

Commissioner Ravel was sworn in on October 25, 2013, for a term ending on April 30, 2017. She resigned her position on February 19.

Chairman Steven T. Walther said, “Ann spoke earnestly and often, both within and outside the agency, of her strong view of the need for greater transparency in the federal election system and for vigorous enforcement of the laws relating to elections. She also spoke often of the need for greater citizen participation in the electoral processes generally. In conveying her messages, she was no shrinking violet, which is so important in a democratic system.”

Before coming to the Commission, Commissioner Ravel served as Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), where she oversaw the regulation of campaign finance, lobbyist registration and reporting, and ethics and conflicts of interest related to officeholders and public employees. Commissioner Ravel was instrumental in the creation of the States' Unified Network (SUN) Center, a web-based center for sharing information on campaign finance. Ms. Ravel also served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Torts and Consumer Litigation in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice and as the appointed County Counsel for Santa Clara County, California.

Commissioner Ravel received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.