Governor Gavin Newsome | Facebook Website
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced several appointments to key positions in California's state administration.
Anthony Chavez, hailing from Auburn, will take on the role of Chief Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement. Chavez has been associated with California Volunteers since 2011, serving as Director of Operations since 2021. He previously held the position of Director of Finance and Administration for a decade. Chavez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Humboldt. His new role does not require Senate confirmation, and his compensation is set at $190,536. Chavez identifies as a Democrat.
Thomas Cameron, based in Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Deputy Executive Director at the Strategic Growth Council. Cameron's career includes serving as Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives at the California Department of Aging since 2022 and previously as Deputy Director of Administration from 2019 to 2022. His earlier roles include Chief of Administration for the Board of State and Community Corrections and various positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation between 2006 and 2015. This appointment also does not require Senate confirmation, with a compensation package amounting to $180,012. Cameron is affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Mariam El-Menshawi from Granite Bay will assume the role of Chief of the Office of Victims and Survivor Rights and Services within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She has served as a Hearing Officer at California Hearing Officers since 2024 while holding multiple roles at the California Victim Resource Center at McGeorge School of Law over twelve years. Her educational background includes a Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law, an MBA from California State University, Sacramento, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University. The position carries a salary of $173,004 and does not necessitate Senate approval; El-Menshawi is registered without party preference.
Jan Schori will continue her service on the Independent System Operator Governing Board after being reappointed to her post where she has served since 2021. Schori brings experience from her time as Trustee for North American Electric Reliability Corporation until 2020 and past legal counsel roles including Of Counsel at Downey Brand LLP. She graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from UC Davis School of Law alongside a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley. Her continued role requires Senate confirmation with annual compensation fixed at $50,000; Schori aligns with Democratic values.
Severin Borenstein retains his position on the Independent System Operator Governing Board following his reappointment where he has contributed since 2019. Borenstein is recognized for his academic tenure as Professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School since 1996 along with previous teaching posts spanning institutions such as UC Davis and University of Michigan throughout earlier decades. His educational qualifications include an Economics Ph.D. from MIT coupled with an undergraduate Economics degree obtained from UC Berkeley; this position demands Senate approval alongside $50,000 remuneration annually—Borenstein is associated with the Democratic Party.
These appointments reflect ongoing commitments within various governmental departments across state infrastructure aimed toward strategic growth initiatives along community service engagement under Governor Newsom’s leadership.
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