Palo Alto, CA- Today, Democratic Attorney General candidate Chris Kelly reported $2,034,000 in cash on hand as of December 31, 2009. 

 “I am running for Attorney General to bring my experience in law, public policy and business to find innovative ways to make California safer.  California’s government is broken, and voters are ready for a new voice to take on California’s toughest problems.  The contribution I have made to my campaign and the support I am receiving from others will ensure that we can have a real conversation with Californians up and down the state about the innovative plans I have to protect the public, fight for consumers, and reduce crime on the streets and online,” said Kelly. 

Prior to the December 31st filing deadline, Kelly donated $2 million of his own money to his campaign.  In addition to his personal contribution, Kelly raised $204,000 from individuals in the reporting period that ran from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009.  

“Because I am not part of the traditional political class, I do not have access to the same special interest money that my opponents do.  Among them, my opponents have more than 40 years of taxpayer-funded name recognition and political favors to call in.  That is why I will continue to ensure my campaign has the financial resources necessary, including more of my own, to take California in a new direction,” said Kelly.

“I am deeply committed to strengthening our criminal justice system with the use of innovative and state of the art technology, and I will work to prevent all types of crime with effective policies that address the root of criminal activity and help to keep our communities safe.  As the people of California learn more about why my real world, hands-on experience makes me the best choice to be the next Attorney General of California, I am confident that we will win in June and in November,” said Kelly. 

With his unique experience in law, business and pubic policy, Kelly brings a fresh perspective to the Attorney General’s office.  In the early 1990’s, Kelly served as a domestic policy advisor to former President Clinton before graduating from Harvard Law School and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology.  Returning home to California in 1997, Kelly then worked for a federal judge in San Diego, assisting on a wide range of civil and criminal cases such as drug smuggling and money laundering.

Kelly then joined Palo Alto law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati where he represented technology innovators including Netscape in the Microsoft antitrust case. In 2005, when Facebook had only two dozen employees, Kelly served as the company’s first General Counsel and also as Chief Privacy Officer and Head of Global Public Policy, overseeing privacy, security, and safety for one of the most successful Internet-based companies ever.  In his role as Chief Privacy Officer of Facebook, Kelly worked side by side with Attorneys General in all 50 states to make the Internet a safer place, crack down on sexual predators and protect consumers from identity theft. Kelly was also a champion of Facebook’s use to reconnect governments with their citizens.  
 
“As the next Attorney General of California, I will be ready on day-one to provide Californians with tough and innovative solutions to our most serious problems,” said Kelly.