- Past Chair and current Board Member, San Diego County Water Authority
- Vice Chair, Colorado River Board of California
- Past Chair, California Transportation Commission Road Charge Task Force
A native of San Diego, Jim Madaffer has devoted more than four decades to advancing the strength, resilience, and innovation of cities throughout California. His career reflects a rare combination of public service, entrepreneurship, policy leadership, and private-sector advisory work, all grounded in a commitment to improving communities and delivering lasting results.
Jim is also a serial entrepreneur, having founded his first successful manufacturing business at the age of 20. Throughout his 40+ year career, he has seamlessly interspersed leadership roles in both the private and public sectors, bringing a practical, results-driven perspective to governance and policy-making that is informed by real-world business experience.
Jim’s public service journey began in the mid-1980s at the grassroots level, where he built a reputation as a collaborative leader capable of bringing diverse stakeholders together. He went on to serve as Chief of Staff to a San Diego City Councilmember before being elected to the San Diego City Council in 2000, where he served two terms through 2008.
During his time on the Council, Jim held several key leadership roles, including Council President Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem, and chaired multiple committees spanning land use, housing, public safety, and natural resources. His tenure was marked by a focus on building critical public infrastructure and shaping policies that continue to define San Diego’s economic vitality and quality of life. He played an instrumental role in advancing landmark projects such as Petco Park, the renovation of Torrey Pines Golf Course, expansion of library facilities, major transportation improvements, and the preservation and growth of Mission Trails Regional Park. These enduring investments continue to serve residents and shape the region’s identity.
Beyond the City of San Diego, Jim has had a profound regional and statewide impact. As a member of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors and Chair of its Transportation Committee, he helped guide long-range mobility and infrastructure planning. At the state level, his appointment to the California Transportation Commission and leadership of its Road Charge Task Force placed him at the forefront of developing innovative approaches to transportation funding.
Jim also played a significant leadership role within the League of California Cities, serving on its Board of Directors from 2001 to 2009 and as President from 2007 to 2008. During his tenure, he was a strong advocate for protecting local government authority and strengthening the League’s role as a unified voice for cities statewide.
His leadership in public service has continued well beyond elected office. As a past Chair of the San Diego County Water Authority, Jim helped guide critical decisions related to water reliability, infrastructure investment, and long-term resource planning. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Colorado River Board of California, where he plays a key role in addressing one of the most pressing issues facing California and the American Southwest: sustainable water management.
In 2009, Jim founded Madaffer Enterprises, Inc., a public policy and government affairs firm that advises municipalities, public agencies, and private sector clients across California. Under his leadership, the firm has become a trusted advisor on complex land use, infrastructure, and “smart cities” strategies, helping communities navigate regulatory challenges while advancing innovative solutions.
In addition to his professional and public service accomplishments, Jim and his wife Robin are the founders of Julian Farm & Orchard, a 25-acre agritourism and experiential destination in the Julian area that is currently in development. The project is envisioned as a one-of-a-kind rural destination featuring a 50-unit experiential glamping resort, a working farm with u-pick crops and family-oriented activities, an animal sanctuary, a farm-to-table restaurant, craft brewery, distillery and winery tasting experiences, a wellness spa and yoga facilities, and a 384-seat community event barn, along with retail and gathering spaces designed to bring people together.
In addition, Jim and his wife Robin co-founded Julian Distilling in 2017. Since then, they have been carefully aging barrels of whiskey with the intention of producing a signature line of spirits. As part of their continued investment in the Julian community, they are currently in the process of leasing a new facility where they plan to begin bottling and expanding their distilling operations.
Throughout his career, Jim has been recognized for his integrity, vision, and ability to build consensus on complex issues. He is widely respected as a leader who understands both the policy framework and the practical realities of governance, and who remains deeply committed to improving the lives of the communities he serves.
Jim is an active member of San Diego Rotary Club 33 and Lambda Alpha International. He and Robin split their time between San Diego and their ranch in Julian, where they enjoy time with their twin sons and their two English bulldogs—Rose and Bob.