SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Monica Samaniego Hunter, 63, of Los Osos, has been appointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2005. Hunter has been director of research at PAST Foundation since 2010 and has served as the central coast watersheds program manager at the Planning and Conservation League Foundation since 2004. She was an instructor in the social sciences department at Napa Valley College in 2003, field research assistant for the California Sea Grant marine advisory program from 2001 to 2003 and researcher for the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001. Hunter was a consultant for the Morro Bay National Estuary Program in 2000. She served as a curator for the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum from 1996 to 1997, associate curator for the Los Angeles Maritime Museum from 1993 to 1995 and field assistant and researcher for California State Parks and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in 1994 and 1991. She served as an associate producer for Intellicom Communications Inc. from 1985 to 1990. Hunter serves on the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy Executive Board. She earned a doctorate degree in anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hunter is a Democrat.
Russell Jeffries, 77, of Salinas, has been appointed to the Central Coastal Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 1992. Jeffries has owned Jeffries Landscaping since 1991 and was a senior communications technician for AT&T from 1955 to 1991. He served as mayor for the city of Salinas from 1987 to 1991 and served on the Salinas City Council from 1981 to 1987. Jeffries is president of Moss Landing Harbor District and is a sanctuary advisory councilmember representing the California Environmental Protection Agency for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He serves as chairperson of the Salinas/Kushikino Sister City Association and the Monterey County Tax Appeals Board. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jeffries is a Republican.
Jennifer Lester Moffitt, 32, of Davis, has been reappointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2012. Moffitt has worked in multiple positions at Dixon Ridge Farms since 2004, including managing director and marketer. Moffitt served as an education, outreach and research specialist for the American Farmland Trust from 2002 to 2005. She was appointed to the food safety working group of the California Walnut Board in 2009. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Moffitt is a Democrat.
Thomas Davis, 62, of Rancho Mirage, has been appointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2007. Davis has served as the chief planning and development officer for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians since 1997. He was a senior associate for David Evans and Associates Inc. from 1995 to 1997. Davis held several positions with Tierra Planning and Design from 1983 to 1995, including principal, co-owner and president. He was an associate for the land planning firms Phillips Brandt Reddick & Associates from 1981 to 1983 and Genge Consultants from 1979 to 1980. Davis serves on the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership Board of Directors and the Desert Valley Builders Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Davis is a Republican.
Jeffrey Hays, 51, of Palm Springs, has been appointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2004. Hays has been executive director of Desert Alliance for Community Empowerment Inc. since 2001. He served in multiple positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1984 to 2000, including rural development director, supervisory hearing office and county supervisor for the Farmers Home Administration. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, San Bernardino. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hays is a Democrat.
Ellen Way, 45, of La Quinta, has been appointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2004. Way has been owner of Sanders Way Ranch and a partner at Prime Time Produce since 1990. She was an agricultural specialist for Assemblymember James Battin from 1996 to 2000. Way was marketing director at the California Apple Commission from 1995 to 1996 and merchandising representative/food service manager at Sun World International from 1990 to 1993. She is a graduate of the California Agriculture Leadership Program and a member and former president of California Women for Agriculture. This position requires Senate confirmation and the salary is $100 per diem. Way is a Republican.
Robert Keith Dyas, 60, of Rosamond, has been appointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2004. Dyas worked at Edwards Air Force Base as an environmental engineer specializing in industrial water use from 1994 to 2012 and was a civil engineer in the civil engineering squadron at Edwards Air Force base from 1984 to 1994. He was a mechanical engineer at Occidental Petroleum Corporation from 1975 to 1984. Dyas is vice president of the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency Board of Directors and vice chairman of the Kern County Water Resources Committee. He earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, Fresno. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dyas is a Republican.
Donald Jardine, 61, of Markleeville, has been appointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2008. Jardine has served on the Alpine County Board of Supervisors since 1987. He worked in multiple positions at the California Department of Transportation from 1986 to 2006, including supervisor, equipment operator and lead worker. Jardine is director of the Carson Water Subconservancy District and county liaison to the Alpine Watershed Group. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jardine is a Republican.
Maria Mehranian, 55, of La Canada, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2008. Mehranian has served in multiple positions at the Cordoba Corporation since 1987, including managing partner and vice president of urban transportation planning. She earned a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mehranian is a Democrat.
Irma Munoz, 60, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2011. Munoz has been founder and president of Mujeres de la Tierra since 2005. She was a senior manager at TreePeople from 2001 to 2003. Munoz was national director of marketing and customer service at the United States Small Business Administration from 1994 to 2000. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Munoz is a Democrat.
Heidi Carpenter-Harris, 42, of Salyer, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2005. Carpenter-Harris has worked as an independent range consultant and as a range management specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service since 2001. She was a biological monitor for California State University, Chico and the California Department of Fish and Game from 2000 to 2001. Carpenter-Harris was a wildlife technician for the Hoopa Tribal Wildlife Department in 1998. She was a watershed coordinator at Americorps Adopt-a-Watershed program from 1995 to 1997. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Carpenter-Harris is registered decline-to-state.
Geoffrey Hales, 40, of Eureka, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2006. Hales has served as a geologist for McBain and Trush Inc. since 2001. He served as a geologist for Kleinfelder Inc. from 1999 to 2001, Busch Geotechnical Consultants from 1995 to 1999 and the U.S. Geological Survey in 1995. Hales is a founding member of the Humboldt Friends of Geology and is a licensed professional geologist. He earned a Master of Science degree in environmental systems from California State University, Humboldt. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hales is a Democrat.
John Muller, 66, of Half Moon Bay, has been appointed to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 1995. Muller has served as councilmember and vice-mayor of Half Moon Bay since 2006 and has owned Daylight Farms and Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm since 1990. He was owner of Daylight Nursery from 1970 to 1990 and worked as a line truck driver for PG&E from 1967 to 1970. Muller is a member and former president of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, California Agricultural Leadership Alumni and director and former chair of the Coastside County Water District. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Muller is a Republican.
Linda Ackerman, 68, of Irvine, has been appointed to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. Ackerman has been a director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California since 2008. Ackerman is president of financial development for the Marian Bergeson Excellence in Public Service Series. She is executive director of the California State Capitol Preservation Fund and has been a member of USCB Inc. Board of Directors since 2005. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ackerman is a Republican.