Patricia Whelan Sanders
Vice PresidentPatricia Whelan Sanders is Vice President of Mercury’s California office, where she advises clients on government affairs and community relations.
Served as Policy Director for former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Held senior level positions with MLB and MLS teams.
Legislative aide at the nation’s number one container port.
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see expertsPatricia Whelan Sanders is a senior government and community affairs professional with over 15 years of experience in both the public and private sectors across the greater Los Angeles area.
With a deep understanding of local and statewide governmental policies and procedures, Patricia has significant experience advising clients, elected officials and staff at all levels of government. She is well-positioned to provide strategic insights in the areas of legislative analysis and advocacy and has wide-ranging expertise in numerous fields, including land-use and transportation infrastructure, public safety, sports and entertainment, energy and environment, and community engagement.
In her senior roles with two of Los Angeles’ most storied professional sports franchises, the Dodgers and Galaxy, Patricia spearheaded key government affairs and community relations initiatives, effectively championing the teams’ interests across various governmental levels and significantly enhancing the organizations’ impact and influence across the country.
As a Policy Director for former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Patricia adeptly handled a diverse portfolio covering city services, energy and environment, Homeland Security, and public safety. Additionally, her insights as Los Angeles City Councilmember Joe Buscaino’s advisor on trade and infrastructure policy matters, and her tenure as a Legislative Aide at the Port of Los Angeles, further solidified her comprehensive understanding of governmental operations.
Patricia interned at the United Nations where she contributed to research efforts aimed at providing key strategies for public administration capacity building in post‐conflict countries.
A native of Los Angeles, Patricia holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Humboldt State University.