Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Karen Douglas, of Davis, has been appointed Senior Advisor for Energy in the Office of the Governor. Douglas has served as a California Energy Commission Member since 2008. Douglas was Director of the California Climate Initiative for the Environmental Defense Fund from 2005 to 2008. She held several positions at the Planning and Conservation League from 2001 to 2005, including Acting Executive Director and General Counsel. Douglas earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School and a Master of Public Policy degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Colorado Boulder. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $180,000. Douglas is a Democrat.
Julie Lee, of Auburn, has been appointed to the Delta Stewardship Council. Lee has served as Undersecretary of the California Government Operations Agency since 2018, where she is also Chair of the California Building Standards Commission. Lee held several positions in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2011 to 2018, including Director of Operations from 2013 to 2018, Reorganizational Specialist from 2012 to 2013 and Project Manager of the Governor’s reorganization plan at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency from 2011 to 2012. She was Public Information Manager at the California Department of Transportation, District 2 from 2009 to 2011 and served in several positions at the California Department of Personnel Administration from 2005 to 2009, including as Statewide Workforce Planning Manager, Administrative Assistant II, Executive Secretary I and Office Technician. Lee was an Office Assistant at the California Highway Patrol from 2004 to 2005 and at the California Department of Corrections from 2003 to 2004. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $52,794. Lee is a Democrat.