Steve Nichols is a native of Palm Springs, California, whose grandparents, Prescott and Frances Stevens, came to the area in the early 1900's.  After graduating from Palm Springs High School and then earning a degree in history at Stanford University (1967), Steve spent 10 months in Vietnam as a teacher with a volunteer-based development organization similar to Peace Corps,  International Voluntary Services. Thereafter he and his wife, Sally Benson, lived for some 30 years in Washington, D.C., where Steve obtained his law degree. While attending law school Steve worked first with the American Friends Service Committee’s Pretrial Justice Program, and then later as Assistant to the General Counsel of the federal Privacy Protection Study Commission.  He later entered law practice with firms in Washington, D.C. and specialized in energy issues, representing primarily municipal electric utility systems including several in Southern California. In 2001 Steve returned to reside in Palm Springs, and served until 2007 as president of the Whitewater Mutual Water Company, a cooperatively-owned non-profit utility. He has served on the City’s Planning Task force as well as its Budget Task Force.  He currently is a member of the board of the Palm Springs Historical Society.

In 2003, Steve marshaled the resources bequeathed by his parents, Sallie Stevens Nichols and Culver Nichols, and with his wife Sally's help established the Chino Cienega Foundation, a grantmaking foundation that focuses on environmental, cultural, peacebuilding and war remediation issues.

Education:

Attended public schools from kindergarten through high school in Palm Springs.

BA degree from Stanford University (1967).  JD degree from Catholic University School of Law, Washington D.C. (1977)

Professional Background:

President of Whitewater Mutual Water Company, a small irrigation water company in Palm Springs.  Practiced law with two firms in Washington, D.C. from 1981 through 1999, concentrating on energy law (including representation of municipal utilities and electric utility cooperatives) and representation of non-profit organizations, including a regional group health plan.  In mid-1970's served on legal staff of Privacy Protection Study Commission, Washington, D.C.