Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Rick Braziel, of Truckee, has been re-appointed to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, where he has served since 2015. Braziel has been President of Rick Braziel Consulting Inc. since 2016 and has been an Instructor at Humboldt State University since 2000 and an Independent Instructor and Consultant since 1995. Braziel was Chief of Police at the Sacramento Police Department from 2008 to 2012, where he held various other positions from 1979 to 2008, including Deputy Chief, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Watch Commander and Captain. Braziel earned a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento and a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies, Homeland Security and Defense from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Braziel is registered without party preference.
Wendy J. Dier, of Alturas, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Modoc County Superior Court. Dier has been a Sole Practitioner since 1995 and has worked on contract in various positions, including with the Modoc County Superior Court, Modoc County District Attorney’s Office and Modoc County Department of Social Services. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. Dier fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David A. Mason. She is a Democrat.
Judge Yvette Durant, of Truckee, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Nevada County Superior Court. She has served as a Judge in the Sierra County Superior Court since 2016. Judge Durant served as a Commissioner at the Nevada County Superior Court from 2011 to 2016. She was a Sole Practitioner from 1999 to 2011 and an Associate at Tonon and Associates in 1999. Judge Durant was an Associate at Ashbaugh Beal from 1991 to 1993. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert L. Tamietti. Judge Durant is registered without party preference.
Gregory (Greg) Giusti, of Kelseyville, has been re-appointed to the North Coastal Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2013. Giusti has been Director and Advisor Emeritus for Forests and Wildland Ecology at the University of California Cooperative Extension since 2017, where he was Director and Advisor of Forests and Wildland Ecology for the University of California, Cooperative Extension from 1985 to 2017. Giusti was Agricultural Biologist at the San Mateo County Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 1985 and Chief Biologist at the Marine Ecological Institute from 1978 to 1981. Giusti has been a registered Professional Forester since 2013. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Ecology and Systematic Biology from San Francisco State University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Giusti is registered without party preference.
Sylvia J. Hanna, of Tulare, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Tulare County Superior Court. Hanna has served as Chief Deputy Public Defender at the Tulare County Office of the Public Defender since 2019, where she has held several positions since 2004, including Senior Attorney and Supervising Attorney. She served as a Law Clerk at the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office in 2003. Hanna earned a Juris Doctor degree from Notre Dame Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kathryn T. Montejano. Hanna is a Democrat.
Stephanie L. Jamieson, of Patterson, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. Jamieson has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Merced County Public Defender’s Office since 2013. She was a Sole Practitioner from 2011 to 2012 and an independent contractor at the Law Office of Victor Vertner from 2011 to 2012. Jamieson earned a Master of Laws degree from the California Western School of Law and a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy of a new position created on September 24, 2019. Jamieson is a Democrat.
Essra Mostafavi, of Bishop, has been re-appointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2021. Mostafavi has been Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Geode Environmental Inc. since 2017. She was Senior Project Manager at VCS Environmental from 2015 to 2017. Mostafavi was Associate Environmental Planner at the California Department of Transportation District 8 from 2012 to 2015. She was a member of the Board of Directors at Global Majority from 2010 to 2012. Mostafavi was Acting County Director at Winrock International in 2010. She earned a Master of Arts degree in International Environmental Policy from Middlebury Institute of International Studies. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Mostafavi is a Democrat.
Tina Nieto, of Monterey, has been appointed to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Nieto has been Chief of Police at the City of Marina Police Department since 2017. Nieto served in multiple roles for the City of Los Angeles Police Department from 1989 to 2017, including Commanding Officer, Lieutenant in the Consent Decree Unit and District Lieutenant. She earned a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Nieto is a Democrat.
Valerie Quinto, of Santa Rosa, has been re-appointed to the North Coastal Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2014. Quinto has been Executive Director at the Sonoma Resource Conservation District since 2017, where she was Program Director from 2012 to 2017. She held several positions at Sotoyome Resource Conservation District between 2009 and 2012 including Project Coordinator and Conservation Project Manager. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Quinto is a Democrat.
L. Carmen Ramirez, of Merced, has been re-appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2011. Ramirez has been a Sole Practitioner since 2020. She was Partner at the Law Offices of Kelsey and Ramirez from 2014 to 2020, a Sole Practitioner from 2011 to 2014 and an Attorney at the Law Offices of Fagalde, Albertoni and Flores LLP from 2007 to 2010. Ramirez was a Redevelopment Associate at the City of Merced from 2003 to 2007. Ramirez earned a Juris Doctor degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Ramirez is a Democrat.