I’m sure he’ll have lots of friends….
Facebook’s Chris Kelly Announces Exploratory Bid for California Attorney
General
Palo Alto, California- Chris Kelly, Facebook’s Chief Privacy Officer and
Head of Global Public Policy, announced today that he was forming a
committee to explore running for California Attorney General in 2010 and
launched a new website, Kelly2010.com (http://kelly2010.com).
“Over the past year, many people I respect have asked me to run for
California Attorney General in 2010. Today, after much consideration, I am
announcing that I¹ve launched a committee to further explore the race,”
Kelly said. Â “As the next Attorney General of California, I would utilize my
experience to protect California consumers, maintain an open and accountable
government, and guarantee an effective legal system.”
Kelly is the Chief Privacy Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at
Facebook, the website with more then 200 million users. Â Prior to Facebook
he served as privacy officer and counsel to some of California’s most
innovative companies and as an advisor in the Clinton Administration.
Transcript of the Video announcement featured on the website is as follows:
Hi. I¹m Chris Kelly.
Over the past year, many people I respect have asked me to run for
California Attorney General in 2010. Today, after much consideration, I am
announcing that I¹ve launched a committee to further explore the race.
This committee will help me determine how I can best continue my
contributions to a safer, more secure and more transparent California.
California¹s justice system and our political system as a whole need a
transformation that will enhance the lives of all Californians. California
has been victim to inefficient government and wasteful spending. It¹s time
for that to change.
As the next Attorney General of California, I would utilize my experience to
protect California consumers, maintain an open and accountable government,
and guarantee an effective legal system.
My first job out of law school was as a law clerk in San Diego, helping a
federal judge handle criminal and civil cases for one of the busiest
judicial districts in the nation. Before I got to law school, I gained
extensive policymaking experience advancing some of President Bill Clinton¹s
most ambitious public safety and service programs.
I began my work in public service as a staffer for Bill Clinton¹s 1992
presidential campaign and in the early years of his administration. I worked
with my colleagues to advance his plan to put more than 100,000 new cops on
the street and helped to establish the national service program, AmeriCorps.
My time with the Clinton administration left me with an abiding respect for
public service and a desire to contribute further myself.
For the past four years, as the Chief Privacy Officer of Facebook, the
company that has only begun to transform our information-based economy, I
have dealt first-hand with the complex legal challenges and privacy issues
that effect California businesses and consumers. Â We need a strong consumer
protection advocate as California¹s chief law enforcement officer, defending
people against unfair practices and schemes. As California faces a budget
deficit of more that 41 billion dollars, rising home foreclosure rates and
an uncertain economic future, it is imperative that we prevent consumer
fraud and protect California residents from scam artists offering once in a
life time opportunities for homeownership, phony foreclosure avoidance
scams, and any financial fraud.
At Facebook, I lead an outstanding team that is building a safer and more
trusted online experience for more than 200 million people. Â For the past
four years, I¹ve worked closely with Attorneys General across the nation to
help make the Internet safer for consumers of all ages, particularly young
people. Â I understand the technological challenges parents face in
protecting their children from potential online predators and preserving
online privacy because I have been building systems to help protect you and
your children. Â Improving Internet safety for young people and providing
people of all ages with a safer online experience will be a critical role
for me as your Attorney General.
As Attorney General, another one of my key priorities would be working
strategically with California¹s law enforcement agencies to ensure they are
properly equipped and trained and supported. Â Recent incidents involving
brutal gun violence resulting in the death of local police officers is
unacceptable. Â Â We need to protect our law enforcement officials that are on
the streets every day, keeping us out of harms way, and ensure that they
have the most powerful technological tools to deter crimes and bring
criminals to justice.
I will also work with closely federal, state and local law enforcement
officials to ensure they have the resources they need and can better deploy
innovative technology to prevent further trafficking of humans, drugs, and
guns back and forth across the border between California and Mexico.
I¹m especially thankful, as I begin this quest, for the support of my wife,
Jennifer, whose dedication to public service as a former prosecutor is a
further inspiration for me; and for the amazing love of my son Aidan, who
has brought so much joy to us in his few short months in this world.
I¹m very grateful for the encouragement I¹ve had so far from people across
the state of California. I look forward to hearing more from them, and you,
as I travel across the state.