Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

 

 

 

Monika Giebitz, of Auburn, has been appointed Deputy Director of Legislation at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, where she has been Chief of Legislation since 2013. Giebitz was a Legislative Analyst at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection from 2009 to 2013 and 2005 to 2008 and a Staff Services Analyst at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services from 2008 to 2009. Giebitz earned a Master of Arts degree in English from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $140,244. Giebitz is registered without party preference.

Jignesh “Jig” Patel, of Roseville, has been appointed to the State Board of Pharmacy, where he has served since 2020. Patel has been a Division Pharmacy Manager for Safeway NorCal Division since 2006, where he has held several positions since 1999, including Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacist, Intern and Technician. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Patel is a Democrat.

Gavin Payne, of San Luis Obispo, has been reappointed to the California Cradle-to-Career Data System Governing Board, where he has served since 2021. Payne has been Principal at GPC Advisors LLC, since 2016. He was Director of United States Policy, Advocacy and Communications at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2013 to 2016. Payne was Chief Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Department of Education from 2003 to 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Payne is a Democrat.

Karen Relucio, of Napa, has been reappointed to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services, where she has served since 2019. Relucio has been Public Health Officer and Deputy Director at the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency since 2015. She held several positions at the San Mateo County Health System between 2006 and 2015 including Assistant Health Officer and Medical Director at the Public Health Clinics, STD/HIV Program and Medical Director of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program. Relucio is President of the Health Officers Association of California and a member of the Napa Solano Medical Society Board of Directors. Relucio is a member of the California Conference of Local Health Officers, where she served as President from 2019 to 2021. She earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Rush University Medical College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Relucio is a Democrat.

Tony Tavares, of Elk Grove, has been appointed as Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Tavares has been District 7 Director of the California Department of Transportation since 2020, where he has served in several positions since 1997, including District 4 Director, Chief of the Division of Maintenance, Chief of the Division of Right of Way and Land Surveys, and Assistant Division Chief of Construction. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $209,100. Tavares is a Democrat.

Kelly Welchans, of Davis, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Welchans has been a Deputy Attorney General in the Natural Resources Law Section at the Office of the California Attorney General since 2017. She was an Associate at Arnold & Porter LLP from 2007 to 2017. Welchans earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $185,004. Welchans is a Democrat.