Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Laurence J. Adams, of Sonoma, has been reappointed to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, where he has served since 2020. Adams has been a self-employed Chiropractor since 1996 and has been Team Chiropractor and Head Trainer for the Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Team since 2015. Adams was a Missionary in Nashville, Tennessee from 1986 to 1988. He is a member of the California Chiropractic Association and serves as a Regional Director on the Board. Adams earned a postdoctoral degree in chiropractic neurology from the Carrick Institute and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Adams is a Republican.
Steve Barzo, of Woodland, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association, Yolo County Fair Board. Barzo served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Woodland from 2001 to 2016. He was a Management Services Officer for ROTC at the University of California, Davis from 1984 to 2011. Barzo served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1984. He is President at Kiwanis International-Woodland. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Barzo is a Democrat.
Jeffrey Billett, of Cambria, has been appointed Medical Director of Coalinga State Hospital at the Department of State Hospitals. Billett has been a Psychiatrist for the Clinical Operations Advisory Council at the Department of State Hospitals, Clinical Operations since 2019. He has been a Psychiatrist in private practice since 1992. Billett was a Staff Psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital from 2018 to 2019. He held several roles at Patton State Hospital between 2017 and 2018, including Staff Psychiatrist, Senior Psychiatrist and Acting Medical Director. Billett held several roles at the Department of State Hospitals, Stockton between 2013 and 2017, including Senior Psychiatrist, Chief Psychiatrist and Acting Medical Director. He is a member of the University of California, Riverside Clinical Faculty and the Northern California Clinical TMS Society. Billett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Santa Clara University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $360,804. Billett is a Democrat.
Macey Binning-Vonrader, of Alturas, has been appointed to the 34th District Agricultural Association, Modoc District Fair Board. Binning-Vonrader has served as City Clerk for the City of Alturas since 2018. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Binning-Vonrader is registered without party preference.
Joyce E. Dudley, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the Peace Officer Standards Accountability Advisory Board. Dudley was Chair of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training from 2016 to 2022 and a member there from 2013 to 2022. Dudley served as District Attorney of Santa Barbara County from 2010 to 2022. She was a Deputy District Attorney in the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 2010. She was Director of Child Development Programs at the Community Action Commission of the County of Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1988 and Child Development Director at the Children’s Home Society of California from 1979 to 1984. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education from Antioch University, a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $350 per diem. Dudley is a Democrat.
Brian Enos, of Madera County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Madera County Superior Court. Enos has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California since 2005. He was Senior Associate Attorney at Sagaser, Franson & Jones from 2000 to 2005 and an Associate at Kimble, MacMichael & Upton from 1998 to 2000. Enos earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. The compensation for this position is $231,174. Enos is a Democrat.
Mark Ghilarducci, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Ghilarducci served as Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services from 2013 to 2023, where he served as Deputy Director from 2000 to 2003. He was Secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency from 2012 to 2013. Ghilarducci was Partner and Managing Director at Diamante Partners LLC from 2011 to 2012. He was Vice President at Witt and Associates from 2003 to 2011. Ghilarducci was Federal Coordinating Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 1997 to 2000. He was Deputy Fire Chief and Director of Special Operations Branch for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services – Fire Rescue from 1988 to 1977. Ghilarducci earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from the University of California, Davis. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ghilarducci is a Democrat.
Alexandra Hart, of Montague, has been appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board. Hart has been a Senior Appraiser with LandVest Real Estate since 2022. She was an Appraiser with Yosemite Farm Credit, ACA from 2015 to 2022. Hart has been a member of the Appraisal Institute since 2015 and a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers since 2022. Hart earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness Management and Food Marketing from the University of Kentucky. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Hart is registered without party preference.
Ellen E. Martin, of Woodland, has been appointed Director of Homeownership at the California Housing Finance Agency. Martin has been Director of Business Development and Stakeholder Relations at the California Housing Finance Agency since 2021. Martin was a Principal at Economic and Planning Systems Inc. from 2019 to 2021 and held various positions at EPS from 2005 to 2019, including Executive Vice President and Vice President. She was a Policy Analyst and Legislative Coordinator at United Domestic Workers of America from 2003 to 2005. Martin was an Administrative Assistant in the California State Assembly Fellowship Program in 2003. Martin is a member of the Urban Land Institute, where she serves on the Sacramento District Council's Executive Committee as well as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,188. Martin is a Democrat.
Leanne Mayberry, of El Dorado County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the El Dorado County Superior Court. Mayberry has served as a Research Attorney at the El Dorado County Superior Court since 2012. She served as a Deputy County Counsel in the Nevada County Counsel’s Office from 2004 to 2011. Mayberry served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable James K. Singleton at the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska from 2002 to 2004 and as a Law Clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in 2002. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Northeastern University School of Law. Mayberry fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Suzanne N. Kingsbury. The compensation for this position is $231,174. Mayberry is registered without party preference.
Darren Dow Ocasio, of Yreka, has been reappointed to the California Volunteers Commission, where he has served since 2020. Dow Ocasio served in several positions at CAL FIRE Local 2881 between 2006 and 2021, including State Rank and File Director, Battalion Chief, General Vice President, District Vice President, and Chapter Director. He held several positions at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) between 1991 and 2020, including Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Fire Apparatus Engineer and Firefighter in the Siskiyou Unit. He is a member of the International Association of Firefighters and California Professional Firefighters. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Dow Ocasio is a Republican.
Karen A. O’Neil, of Santa Barbara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. O'Neil has been President and Managing Shareholder at Kirk & Simas PLC since 2017, where she held several positions from 2011 to 2017, including Shareholder and Associate. She was an Associate and then Partner at Twitchell and Rice LLP from 2003 to 2011. O’Neil was an Associate at Littler Mendelson PC from 2002 to 2003 and at O'Brien, Watters & Davis LLP from 2000 to 2002. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. O’Neil fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Timothy J. Staffel. The compensation for this position is $231,174. O'Neil is a Democrat.
Mark Owens, of Placerville, has been reappointed Chief Counsel at the Office of Systems Integration, where he has served as Chief Counsel since 2016 and has held several roles since 2005, including Attorney V, Attorney IV and Attorney IV Senior Projects Council. Owens held several roles at the California Department of Social Services from 2001 to 2012, including Attorney III, Specialist and Staff Counsel. He was Staff Counsel at the California Department of Corporations in 2001. Owens was Business Development Counsel at 3Com Corporation from 2000 to 2001. He was Corporate and Securities Counsel at Gray, Cary, Ware and Freidenrich from 1999 to 2000. Owens was an Associate at Boutin, Denino, Gibson DiGiusto and Hodell from 1996 to 1999. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $193,512. Owens is registered without party preference.
Jason Rafter, of Nicolaus, has been reappointed to the California Apprenticeship Council, where he has served since 2021. Rafter has been Ironworkers Apprenticeship Director for I.E.B.C. since 2021 and was Apprenticeship Coordinator there from 2008 to 2021. He is a member of the American Welding Society. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rafter is a Democrat.
Ian Rivamonte, of Santa Clara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Monterey County Superior Court. Rivamonte has been an Associate at Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood APC since 2004. He was a Tutor for the University of San Francisco School of Law Academic Support Program from 2003 to 2004. Rivamonte earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lydia M Villarreal. The compensation for this position is $231,174. Rivamonte is a Democrat.
Alex Rodriguez, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board. Rodriguez has been President of Diversity Consulting Group LLC since 1995. He is a member of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, La Cumbre Mutual Water Company and the U.S. EPA National Drinking Water Advisory Council. Rodriguez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Antioch University Santa Barbara. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Rodriguez is a Democrat.
Julie Weng-Gutierrez, of Yolo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Weng-Gutierrez has served as Chief Counsel at the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control since 2019. She served in several roles at the California Attorney General’s Office from 2000 to 2019, including Senior Assistant Attorney General and Supervising Deputy Attorney General. She served as Staff Counsel at the California Department of Health Services from 1997 to 2000 and was a Sole Practitioner from 1996 to 1997. Weng-Gutierrez earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. The compensation for this position is $231,174. Weng-Gutierrez is a Democrat.