Judy Corbett

Judith A. Corbett retired as Executive Director of the Local Government Commission on August 1, 2013.

She was hired as the director in 1979 when the Local Government Commission was created by Governor Jerry Brown and led its transition to an independent non-profit and has continued to lead the organization for more than three decades.  She will remain active with the LGC and as a leader for more sustainable and prosperous communities.

Judy was named by Time Magazine as a “Hero for the Planet” and in 2005 received the National Leadership in Planning Award from the American Planning Association.  She was co-developer of the highly acclaimed Village Homes, a model for sustainable development located in Davis, CA. She has coauthored three books on resource efficient land use and building design, most recently Designing Sustainable Communities:  Learning from Village Homes. At the Local Government Commission, she has published over 50 policy guidebooks for local government officials on topics including community water sustainability, hazardous waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation and alternative energy, sustainable economic development, and resource-efficient land use patterns.

Under Judy’s longtime leadership, Local Government Commission programs played a key role in achieving the seemingly impossible goal of diverting more than half of California’s trash from shrinking landfills. It was well ahead of its time in promoting economic development strategies focused on local job creation instead of subsidizing auto malls and big box retailers. It broke new ground in shifting emphasis toward water and energy conservation strategies versus expensive expansion of supply facilities.

Judy’s leadership is perhaps best known nationally for convening the first conference of local elected officials and visionary architects to seek an alternative to sprawl.  Held at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, the event gave birth to the “Ahwahnee Principles” which laid the foundation for “new urbanism” and “smart growth,” leading communities across the nation to promote infill, transit-oriented development and walkable communities.  The now annual Ahwahnee Conference continues to break new ground in innovative public policy at the local level.

Judy was also influential in linking community design to the national public health crisis of obesity.  She launched the annual “New Partners for Smart Growth” conference, which brings together diverse leaders from across the nation to promote healthier and more prosperous communities. Her wide contacts and diverse interests have helped the LGC to incubate significant new local policies and practices across a wide range of other disciplines including public health, community design and active transportation. Recently LGC has been at the forefront of climate change adaptation, helping communities prepare for and respond to increased local risks.

Judy holds an MS in Ecology from the University of California. She has served as a featured speaker at conferences throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe. She serves as a Boardmember for the Rail-Volution Conference and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Congress for the New Urbanism for 15 years.  She was recently profiled in the Davis Enterprise on being honored with the 2013 Climate Solutions Award.

Judy’s organizational and policy leadership leaves a remarkable legacy. LGC Staff and Board of Directors salute her achievements as Founder and original Executive Director of the Local Government Commission.