Jim Leach

Jim Leach has extensive experience in government relations and public affairs, currently serving as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Rancho Santa Margarita since January 2020 and as Director of External Relations for the Santa Margarita Water District since 2012. Leach's responsibilities include customer communications, marketing, public relations, inter-governmental relations, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to these roles, Leach held several key positions at Cox Communications, including Director of Local Government Relations and Vice President of Public Affairs, where duties encompassed strategy development and execution in community and government affairs. Additional experience includes roles at AT&T Broadband, TCI Cable, and Warner Amex Cable. Leach holds a Certificate in Political Management from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management and a BA in Political Science from The University of Texas at Austin.