Cassandra Mar

Cassandra brings a wealth of legislative knowledge and networking expertise to the Niemela Pappas & Associates’ team. For the last several years she has worked in the California State Assembly, initially starting out as an Assembly Fellow in the office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. From that position she was promoted to legislative aide for the Assemblywoman, advising her on a variety of issues and committees.

When Ms. Irwin was named Chair of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Gasoline Supply and Pricing, Cassandra quickly became an expert in those issue areas. Specifically, she was at the table during highly controversial discussions on the nation’s first gas price gouging law that Governor Newsom proposed and signed in 2023. Other areas of expertise for Cassandra include utilities and energy, transportation, education, and local government.

Cassandra is a proud first generation, bilingual Mexican-American daughter of a farmworker father and mother who grew up in the foster care system. She grew up in Sacramento and graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a double major in Legal Studies and Political Science. As an undergrad, she interned with a Juvenile Dependency law firm in Santa Cruz, and with an immigration law firm in Watsonville where she helped establish the first free legal aid immigration clinic in Santa Cruz County. 

Passionate about building networks, Cassandra is a member of California Women in Energy and the California Latino Capitol Association Foundation. Most recently, on behalf of Ms. Irwin and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, she planned the first annual Women in Innovation luncheon held in Sacramento. This effort is focused on connecting legislators and staff with seasoned professionals in the technology field. Outside of the office you can find Cassandra walking around Midtown exploring local coffee shops.