SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Belia Bennett, 33, of American Canyon, has been appointed to the 25th District Agricultural Association, Napa Town and Country Fair. Bennett has served as councilmember for the City of American Canyon since 2010. She has been the president of Raise the Bar LLC since 2006. Bennett was an associate at Bullivant Houser Bailey PC from 2003 to 2006. She was a clerk for Justice J. Anthony Kline in 2002 and a district representative for Congressman Mike Thompson from 1999 to 2002. This position does not require senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bennett is a Democrat.
Michael Bradbury, 69, of Ojai, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board, where he has served as a member since 2004. He was a partner at Alston and Bird LLC from 2002 to 2010. Bradbury served as district attorney for the County of Ventura from 1979 to 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bradbury is a Republican.
Leta Ciavaglia, 58, of Sanger, has been appointed to the 21st District Agricultural Association, Big Fresno Fair Board. Ciavaglia has held multiple positions at Penstar Group since 1984, including president since 2011. She is a member of the Clovis High School Scholarship Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ciavaglia is a Republican.
Leslie Cornejo, 56, of Oxnard, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board, where she has served as a member since 2008. She has been owner and manager of Santa Paula Travel Service since 1988. Cornejo is a founding director of the Santa Clara Valley Bank. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cornejo is a Republican.
M. Cecilia Cuevas, 48, of Fillmore, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board. Cuevas has been a senior financial advisor for Merrill Lynch since 2004. She was director of development and communications for the American Red Cross of Ventura County from 2002 to 2004 and development director for the Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence from 1997 to 2002. She has served as mayor pro-tem for the City of Fillmore from 2006 to 2008 and city councilmember from 2000 to 2006. Cuevas is the immediate past president of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cuevas is a Democrat.
John Dunbar, 48, of Yountville, has been appointed to the 25th District Agricultural Association, Napa Town and Country Fair. Dunbar has served as mayor for the City of Yountville since 2010 and city councilmember since 2004. Additionally, he has been a senior graphic designer for the University of California, Berkeley since 1990. Dunbar is currently the president of the League of California Cities, North Bay Division, where he has been a member since 2004. Dunbar is a member of Native Sons of the Golden West. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Dunbar is registered decline-to-state.
Kenneth Flower, 80, of Atherton, has been appointed to the District Agricultural Association 01A, Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show. Flower was director of business development for the Golden Gate Bank from 1989 to 1999 and was west coast manager for Westinghouse Broadcasting from 1987 to 1989. He served as vice president of marketing, advertising, politics and community affairs for the San Francisco 49ers from 1977 to 1986, was owner of Ken Flower Comms in 1976 and was vice president of sales and marketing for National Football League Films from 1969 to 1976. He served as an officer for the United States Air Force Reserve from 1954 to 1957. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Flower is a Democrat.
Leah Lacayo, 70, of Newbury Park, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board, where she served from 2001 to 2008. Lacayo served as an account clerk for the Conejo Valley Unified School District from 1990 to 2001. She is a member of the California State University, Channel Islands Alumni and Friends Association and Oxnard Downtown Center for the Arts. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Lacayo is a Democrat.
Daniel Long, 54, of Ventura, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board. Long has been a commercial painting contractor since 1978 and owner of Daniel Long Painting since 1991. He has also been an art instructor with the Ventura County Superintendent of School’s Artist-in-the-Classroom Program since 1992. Long is vice chair of the City of Ventura Planning Commission, where he has been a member since 2007. He has been a volunteer for the Ventura County Fair since 1989. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Long is a Democrat.
Armando Lopez, 56, of Oxnard, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board, where he has been a member since 2003. Lopez has been owner of the Armando Lopez Company since 1984. He is a member of El Concillo Family Services, the Carnegie Art Museum and St. John’s Regional Medical Center Foundation. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Lopez is registered decline-to-state.
Mara Sikaters Kopp, 68, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the District Agricultural Association 01A, Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show, where she has been a member since 2005. She held multiple positions at the City of San Francisco, Department of Public and Mental Health from 1968 to 1992, including clinical director. She is a member of the board of directors for the Salesian Boys and Girls Club and Good Government Alliance. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Kopp is a Democrat.
Mark Salvaggio, 62, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the 15th District Agricultural Association, Kern County Fair Board. Salvaggio was a field representative for County Supervisor Michael Rubio of Kern County from 2005 to 2010 and was a teacher for the Arvin Union School District from 1972 to 2004. He served as councilmember for the City of Bakersfield from 1985 to 2004. Salvaggio also served as a board member on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board from 2000 to 2003. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Salvaggio is registered decline-to-state.
Jim Salzer, 69, of Camarillo, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board. Salzer has owned and operated Salzer Record and Video since 1966. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Salzer is a Democrat.
Bonnie Weigel, 44, of Ventura, has been appointed to the 31st District Agricultural Association, Ventura County Fair Board. Weigel has served as president and chief executive officer of FOOD Share, Inc. since 2008. She was executive director for the California Strawberry Festival from 2005 to 2008. Weigel was a consultant for Weigel Enterprises LLC from 2000 to 2005. She is a member of the Center for Community Engagement Advisory Board and the Ventura County Community Foundation. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Weigel is a Republican.