New Motor Vehicle Board Members
Bismarck Obando
Public Member
Bismarck Obando, a Public Member, was first appointed to the Board by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in January 2011 and was reappointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in April 2014 and again in July 2018. Obando was reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2022. Obando is the Chair of the Board’s Fiscal Committee, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity, Justice and Inclusion, and is the Chair of the Administration Committee.
Obando is currently the Press Secretary for the Office of State Controller Malia M. Cohen. Prior to joining the State Controller’s Office, Obando served as Director of Public Affairs for the League of California Cities where he oversaw the League's political and membership outreach programs. Obando also served as a Senior Staff member and Director of External Affairs for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2007—2011. He also served as Deputy Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Schwarzenegger in 2007. Prior to that appointment, Obando was a Deputy Coalitions Director for Californians for Schwarzenegger 2006, where he was responsible for managing the Latino, environmental, agriculture and infrastructure coalitions. From 2004 to 2006, he served as a legislative analyst for the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. In that position, Obando analyzed and made recommendations on legislation that impacted cities and counties in the primary issue areas of housing and transportation.
His term expires on January 15, 2026.