SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Ginevra Chandler, 57, of Ukiah, has been appointed chief counsel at the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Chandler has served as the chief counsel at the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since 2005.
She was a partner at Carter Behnke Oglesby and Bacik from 2001 to 2005 and deputy county counsel for the County of Humboldt from 1997 to 2001. Chandler received her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $118,164. Chandler is a Republican.
Bishu Chatterjee, 53, of El Cerrito, has been appointed technical advisor at the Public Utilities Commission. Chatterjee has been a senior energy economist at the Public Utilities Commission since 2001. He served as a public utility regulatory analyst for the Public Utilities Commission from 1999 to 2001. Chatterjee was a tax research specialist for the California Franchise Tax Board from 1994 to 1999. He received a doctorate in environmental economics from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $112,992. Chatterjee is a Democrat.
Robert Doyle, 64, of Novato, has been appointed to the Commission for Peace Officer Standards and Training. Doyle has been the Marin County Sheriff since 1996, and has served in the Marin County Sheriff’s Office since 1969. He is a member of the California Sheriff’s Association, and served as president from 2004 to 2005. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Doyle is a Democrat.
Caroline Godkin, 38, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of legislation for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Godkin has been a senior fiscal and policy analyst at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office since 2008. Godkin was an associate consultant at NewPoint Group from 2006 to 2008, a senior management consultant at Anite PLC from 2002 to 2004, a management consultant for Arthur Anderson from 1999 to 2002 and a management consultant at OC&C Strategy Consultants from 1997 to 1999. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $98,280. Godkin is not registered to vote.
Deborah Hoffman, 45, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant secretary of communications at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Hoffman has been the communications director for State Senator Fran Pavley since 2009. She was a news reporter for KXTV ABC Sacramento from 1995 to 2009 and a news reporter for KRNV NBC Reno from 1993 to 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $93,408. Hoffman is registered decline-to-state.
Sepideh Khosrowjah, 51, of El Cerrito, has been appointed policy adviser at the Public Utilities Commission. Khosrowjah has been chief of staff and an energy adviser to Public Utilities Commissioner Mike Florio since January 2011. She has worked in multiple positions at the Public Utilities Commission since 1991, including policy adviser for the Division of Ratepayer Advocates. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $113,736. Khosrowjah is registered Green Party.
Juney Lee, 58, of El Macero, has been appointed chief deputy director at the Department of Rehabilitation. Lee has been the chief deputy director at the Department of Child Support Services since 2010. She served in multiple positions at the Department of Rehabilitation from 1981 to 2010, including most recently as deputy director of the Administrative Services Division. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $126,588. Lee is a Democrat.
Justice Carlos Moreno, 63, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the State Bar Commission on Access to Justice. Justice Moreno serves as counsel to Irell and Manella LLP. He served as an associate justice to the California Supreme Court from 2001 to 2011. Justice Moreno was a federal district court judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California from 1998 to 2001. He served as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 1993 to 1998 and for the Municipal Court, Compton Judicial District from 1986 to 1993. Justice Moreno is on the board of directors of the Inner City Law Center and the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. Justice Moreno received his Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Justice Moreno is a Democrat.
Michael Ramos, 54, of Redlands, has been appointed to the Commission for Peace Officer Standards and Training. Ramos has been the San Bernardino County District Attorney since 2002, and has served in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office since 1989. He represents the State of California on the National District Attorney’s Association Board of Directors. Ramos is a member of the California District Attorneys Association, and served as president from 2010 to 2011. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ramos is a Republican.
Laurie Smith, 60, of San Jose, has been appointed to the Commission for Peace Officer Standards and Training. Smith has been the sheriff of Santa Clara County since 1998, and has served in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office since 1973. She is a member of the California Sheriff’s Association, and served as president from 2007 to 2008. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Smith is a Republican.
Beth Willon, 57, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant director of external affairs at the Department of Mental Health. Willon was a communication specialist at Lucas Public Affairs from 2010 to 2011. She was communications director for Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi from 2008 to 2010, communications director for Assemblymember Lloyd Levine in 2008, press secretary to Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez from 2007 to 2008, and press secretary for Yes on Clean Energy Proposition 87 in 2007. She was a field journalist for NBC Bay Area from 1989 to 2004. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $103,560. Willon is a Democrat.
