SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Nancy Farias, 39, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of legislative affairs at the Department of Personnel Administration. Farias has been legislative director at Service Employees International Union Local 1000 since 2009. She was senior vice president and counsel at Smith Ruddock and Hayes from 2008 to 2009 and contract lobbyist at the Issues Management Group from 2006 to 2008. Farias was an associate at Wolkon and Pascucci LLP from 2002 to 2008 and a political consultant at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council from 2001 to 2002. She is a member of the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association and the Suffolk University Department of Political Science Board of Governors. Farias earned a Master of Science degree in political science from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Suffolk University School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,004. Farias is registered decline-to-state.
David Harrison, 40, of Suisun City, has been appointed to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. Harrison has been the director of safety at Operating Engineers Local 3 since 2008, where he was a business representative from 2005 to 2008 and a marine construction worker from 1995 to 2005. Harrison is a member of Operating Engineers Local Union 3, the Napa Solano Central Labor Council and the Napa Solano Building and Construction Trades Council. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Harrison is a Democrat.
Barbara Smisko, 60, of Berkeley, has been appointed to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. Smisko has been the executive director of national environmental health and safety at Kaiser Permanente since 1994. She was senior staff representative for environmental compliance at United Airlines from 1991 to 1994, project manager at ENSR Corporation from 1988 to 1991 and a trainer at IT Corporation from 1985 to 1988. Smisko is a certified safety professional and a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Disability Management Employer Coalition. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Smisko is a Republican.
Laura Stock, 57, of Berkeley, has been appointed to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. Stock has been associate director at the Labor Occupational Health Program at the University of California, Berkeley since 1982. She was program administrator at the Occupational Health Service at the University of California, Berkeley from 1985 to 1987, health educator at Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center from 1980 to 1981 and a counselor at Dimock Community Health Center from 1977 to 1980. Stock is a member of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Occupational Research Agenda Committee and the American Public Health Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Stock is a Democrat.
Sanford Ballou, 46, of Grass Valley, has been appointed to the 17th District Agricultural Association, Nevada County Fair Board, where he has served since 2008. Ballou has been owner of Sierra Saddlery and Mercantile since 2004 and owner of Emigrant Springs Ranch since 1997. He was manager of Big River Packing from 1993 to 1997 and produce broker, shipper and packer at Oregon Onions from 1990 to 1993. Ballou has been a member of the Nevada County Farm Bureau since 2004 and was president from 2011 to 2012. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ballou is a Republican.
Thomas Browning, 55, of North San Juan, has been appointed to the 17th District Agricultural Association, Nevada County Fair Board, where he has served since 2006. Browning was the battalion chief for the Grass Valley Fire Department from 1998 to 2011. He was deputy fire marshal of Nevada County Consolidated Fire from 1993 to 1998. Browning was a correctional officer for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department from 1991 to 1993. He has been a member of the Nevada County Farm Bureau since 1998 and was president from 2006 to 2008. Browning is a member of Nevada County Livestock Producers Association and the Native Sons of the Golden West. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Browning is a Republican.
Ann “Shanti” Emerson, 69, of Auburn, has been appointed to the 17th District Agricultural Association, Nevada County Fair Board. Emerson was an instructor at the Academy of Art University from 1996 to 2001 and a teacher at the Paramount Unified School District from 1989 to 1994. She was a teacher at Baldwin Park High School from 1984 to 1989, Holy Family High School from 1981 to 1984 and Bishop Conaty High School from 1980 to 1981. Emerson is a member of the Business and Professional Women of Nevada County and the South Nevada County Chamber of Commerce. She earned a Master of Education degree in English from United States International University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Emerson is a Democrat.
Karen Henderson, 58, of Grass Valley, has been appointed to the 17th District Agricultural Association, Nevada County Fair Board. Henderson has been a teacher at Nevada Union High School since 1992. She was a teacher at Emporia State University from 1988 to 1992 and co-owner of Shady Oaks Ranch from 1977 to 1988. Henderson is a member of the California Wool Growers Association. She earned a Master of Science degree in biology from Emporia State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Henderson is registered decline-to-state.
Elizabeth “Libby” O’Sullivan, 25, of Davis, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association, Yolo County Fair Board. O’Sullivan has been a self-employed agriculture consultant since 2011. She was a graduate research assistant at the University of California, Davis from 2008 to 2011. O’Sullivan is a member of the Association of American Geographers. She earned a Master of Science degree in community development from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. O’Sullivan is a Democrat.
Anthony Roberts, 33, of Brooks, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association, Yolo County Fair Board. Roberts has been the tribal council treasurer and a council member of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation since 1999. He is board member of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Academy, Fire Commission and Tribal Gaming Agency. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Roberts is registered decline-to-state.
Denise Sagara, 57, of Esparto, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association, Yolo County Fair Board. Sagara has been the executive director of the Yolo County Farm Bureau since 1998 and secretary at Sagara Farms Inc. since 1980. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sagara is a Republican.
Norman Franklin, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the 52nd District Agricultural Association, Sacramento County Fair Board. Franklin has been a conveyance mechanic for the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 8 since 2000. He was an ironworker for the International Union of Ironworkers Local 377 from 1995 to 2000. Franklin is the president of the Elk Grove Historical Society and a member of the California Indian Dance Group. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Franklin is a Democrat.