Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Judicial Appointments
David Beyersdorf, of Tuolumne County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Tuolumne County Superior Court. Beyersdorf has been a Sole Practitioner since 2016. He was an Associate at Richard Ciummo and Associates from 2011 to 2016 and a Sole Practitioner from 2009 to 2011. Beyersdorf was a Partner and Attorney at Lee & Beyersdorf LLP from 2006 to 2008. He was a Sole Practitioner from 2005 to 2006 and an Associate at the Law Offices of Brunn & Flynn from 2004 to 2005 and at the Law Offices of Hal J. Geiersbach from 2002 to 2004. Beyersdorf earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Seattle University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kate Segerstrom. Beyersdorf is a Democrat.The compensation for this position is $231,174.
Lynnette Brown, of Sonoma County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Brown has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Sonoma County Public Defender's Office since 2010. She served as a Senior Law Clerk at the Sonoma County Public Defender's Office from 2009 to 2010 and as a Law Clerk there from 2008 to 2009. Brown earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Empire College School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Barbara Phelan. Brown is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $231,174.
David Munoz Figueroa, of Tulare County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court. Munoz Figueroa has served as Chief Deputy Public Defender at the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office since 2019, where he served as a Deputy Public Defender from 2007 to 2019. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Munoz Figueroa fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. He is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $231,174.
Jane Gaskell, of Sonoma County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Gaskell has been a Partner at Andrian, Gallenson & Gaskell since 2020. She was an Associate at the Law Offices of Andrian & Gallenson from 2011 to 2019 and a Law Clerk at the Sonoma County Office of the Public Defender from 2010 to 2011. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Empire College School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite. Gaskell is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $231,174.
Paige Hein, of Sonoma County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Hein has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office since 2015. She served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Sacramento County Public Defender's Office from 2006 to 2015. Hein earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Nancy Shaffer. Hein is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $231,174.
Douglas Rodgers, of Tulare County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Tulare County Superior Court. Rodgers has served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office since 2023 and has served as both a Supervising Attorney and a Deputy District Attorney there since 2003. Rodgers is a Veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served on active duty from 1996 to 2000. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary Paden. Rodgers is registered without party preference. The compensation for this position is $231,174.
Kendra Weber, of Kings County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Kings County Superior Court. Weber has served as an Administrative Law Judge at the Board of Parole Hearings since 2023. She served as an Attorney at Kings County Child Support Services from 2016 to 2022. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney's Office from 2012 to 2016. Weber was an Associate at Sawl Law Group from 2009 to 2012. Weber earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Chapman University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Donna Tarter. Weber is registered without party preference. The compensation for this position is $231,174.
Other Appointments
Jolyn Campbell, of Princeton, has been appointed to the 44th District Agricultural Association Colusa County Fair Board. Campbell has been a Real Estate Salesperson for All Star Realty since 2006, the owner of JLC Farms since 2008 and a partner in CC Orchards LLC since 2019. Campbell was a Warehouse Examiner for the United States Department of Agriculture from 2005 to 2019. Campbell is a member of Glenn Colusa Cattlewomen, Ag Advisory Board of Maxwell High School, Colusa County Farm Bureau, and Project Leader for Maxwell 4-H Club. Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business from California State University, Chico. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Campbell is a Republican.
Jeffrey Garcia, of Hanford, has been reappointed to the Board of Optometry where he has served since 2020. Garcia is an optometrist and has been owner of Family Eye Care Optometry since 1996. He was department head and an optometrist for the U.S. Navy from 1993 to 1996 and an O6 active reserve from 1985 to 2018. Garcia is a member of the American Optometric Association and California Optometric Association. He earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Garcia is registered without party preference.
Alyson Guerra, of Santa Maria, has been appointed to the 37th District Agricultural Association, Santa Maria Fair Board. Guerra has been Corporate Secretary at Santa Maria Valley Crop Service, Inc. since 2001. Guerra is member of California Cattlemen’s Association and Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association. Guerra earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at California Polytechnic State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Guerra is a Republican.
Todd Ventura, of Santa Maria, has been appointed to the 37th District Agricultural Association, Santa Maria Fair Board. Ventura has been Owner Poor Richard's Press since 1988. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ventura is a Republican.