SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
John Gioia, 55, of Richmond, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Gioia has been a member of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors since 1999, where he served as chair in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He was principal at the Law Offices of John Gioia from 1986 to 1998 and legal researcher at John Nimmons and Associates, Energy Law Consultants from 1984 to 1986. Gioia is first vice president of the California State Association of Counties and chair of the Bay Area Joint Policy Committee. He is a member of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, where he was chair in 2012. Gioia served as an elected member of the East Bay Municipal Utility District board of directors from 1989 to 1998. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from University of California, Berkeley School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gioia is a Democrat.
Judith Mitchell, 71, of Rolling Hills Estates, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Mitchell has been principal at Judith M. Mitchell Attorney at Law since 2001 and a member of the Rolling Hills Estates City Council since 1999. She was partner and senior litigation associate at Huang PC, Lawyers from 1985 to 2001 and associate at the Law Offices of Russell Iungerich from 1979 to 1983. Mitchell served as president of the League of California Cities in 2009 and is past chair of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. She serves on the governing board at the South Coast Air Quality Management District and on the regional council of the Southern California Association of Governments. Mitchell earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and a Master of Arts degree in German literature from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mitchell is a Democrat.
Alexander Zwissler, 56, of Fairfax, has been appointed to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Zwissler has been executive director and chief executive officer at the Chabot Space and Science Center since 2007. He was executive director at the Fort Mason Foundation from 1999 to 2006 and was director of business development at Comtel from 1995 to 1998. Zwissler was president at Concord Cable TV from 1993 to 1995 and at Ventura County Cablevision from 1989 to 1992. He was president at Las Cruces Cable TV from 1986 to 1988 and at Western Cable TV from 1984 to 1986. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Zwissler is a Democrat.
John Soto, 49, of Palmdale, has been appointed warden at the California State Prison, Lancaster, where he has served as acting warden since 2012. Soto held multiple positions at Salinas Valley State Prison from 2010 to 2012, including chief deputy administrator and correctional administrator. He was facility captain at the California Men’s Colony from 2009 to 2010 and at Kern Valley State Prison from 2007 to 2009. Soto held multiple positions at Avenal State Prison from 1995 to 2007, including correctional lieutenant and correctional sergeant. He was correctional officer at the California Men’s Colony from 1990 to 1995 and at the Correctional Training Facility from 1989 to 1990. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,668. Soto is a Republican.
Myrian Solis Coronel, 32, of Chula Vista, has been appointed to the California State Park and Recreation Commission. Solis Coronel has held multiple positions at REI since 2008, including program partnership manager and community relations administrator. She was a manager at KPBS TV/FM Public Broadcasting from 2002 to 2008. Coronel is a member of MANA de San Diego and a board member of I Love a Clean San Diego. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Solis Coronel is a Democrat.