Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties.
Tara Fouch-Moore, of Mariposa, has been appointed to the Native American Heritage Commission. Fouch-Moore has been Director of Landscape Stewardship at the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation since 2022, where she was Outreach Coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Fouch-Moore was Conference Services and Catering Sales Manager at AC Hotel by Marriott from 2018 to 2020. She is Secretary of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Tribal Council and member of the Steering Committee. Fouch-Moore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Fouch-Moore is a Democrat.
Thomas Gibson, of West Sacramento, has been appointed to the Western States Water Council. Gibson has been the Director at the California Department of Water Resources since 2026, where he held multiple positions including Chief Deputy Director from 2024 to 2026 and Chief Counsel from 2021 to 2024. He held multiple positions at the California Natural Resources Agency from 2014 to 2020, including Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Water, Undersecretary, and General Counsel. Gibson held multiple positions at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from 2007 to 2014, including General Counsel and Assistant Chief Counsel. He held several roles at Best, Best, & Krieger LLP from 2002 to 2008, including Partner and Associate. Gibson was an Associate at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara PC from 1999 to 2002 and at Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard PC from 1997 to 1999. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of California, Davis. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $25 per diem. Gibson is registered without party preference.