SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Jean Shiomoto, 57, of Sacramento, has been appointed director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, where she has been acting director since 2013 and has served in multiple positions since 1988, including chief deputy director, chief of operations, deputy director of the communication programs division, chief financial officer, advisor to the director and chief deputy director, controller, fiscal officer, cost accounting manager and systems development manager. She was an accounting administrator at the California Franchise Tax Board in 1988 and served in multiple positions at the California Department of General Services from 1980 to 1988, including fiscal systems manager, systems development analyst and auditor. Shiomoto was an auditor at the California Department of Developmental Services in 1980. She is a member of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Board of Directors and president of the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley Board of Directors. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,000. Shiomoto is a Democrat.
Hugo López, 51, of Elk Grove, has been appointed chief deputy director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. López has been director of the California State Treasurer’s Office Administration Division since 2000. He was executive director of the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission from 1999 to 2000 and chief budget consultant for the California State Assembly from 1997 to 1999. López served as a staff finance budget analyst at the California Department of Finance from 1989 to 1996 and as a business tax representative for the California State Board of Equalization from 1987 to 1989. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $143,004. López is not registered to vote.
Mike McGowan, 65, of West Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of strategic planning and policy at the California Department of Motor Vehicles, effective December 4, 2013. McGowan has served as an elected member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors in multiple positions since 1993, including chair and vice-chair. He served as an elected member of the West Sacramento City Council from 1987 to 1992 and was mayor of the city in 1987. McGowan was an attorney in private practice from 1977 to 1996. He is chair of the Port of West Sacramento Commission and a member of the Yolo County Transportation District Board of Directors, the Delta Protection Commission and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is an officer of the California State Association of Counties executive committee and was president of the board of directors in 2012. McGowan earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $125,004. McGowan is a Democrat.
David Harris, 47, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director and chief counsel at the California Department of Motor Vehicles, where he has served as deputy director and chief counsel since 2010. Harris served as deputy attorney at the California Department of Transportation from 1997 to 2010 and was an attorney in private practice from 1995 to 1997. He served as deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice from 1994 to 1995 and was an attorney in private practice from 1992 to 1994. Harris earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $137,868. Harris is a Democrat.
Barbara Rooney, 43, of Elk Grove, has been appointed deputy director of legislation at the California Department of Motor Vehicles, where she has served as assistant director of legislation since 2010. Rooney has served in multiple positions at the Department of Motor Vehicles since 2008 and from 1994 to 2004, including advisor to the director and chief deputy director, branch chief of the departmental training branch, principal legislative analyst, legislative analyst and training officer. She has served in multiple positions at the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division from 2004 to 2008, including branch chief and acting branch chief of the technical assistance and policy branch and bureau chief of the policy development bureau. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,004. Rooney is a Republican.
Lizette Mata, 27, of Stockton, has been appointed deputy director of special projects at the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Mata has been communications director for the California Latino Legislative Caucus and for California State Senator Ricardo Lara since 2012. She was communications director at the California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore’s Office from 2011 to 2012 and committee secretary for the California State Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs in 2011. Mata held multiple positions at the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office from 2008 to 2011, including press deputy and press aide. She was program coordinator at the Bert Corona Leadership Institute in 2008 and program advocate at the California Center for Civic Participation from 2006 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $99,492. Mata is a Democrat.
Tracie Cone, 56, of Sacramento, has been appointed communications director at the California Board of State and Community Corrections. Cone has been a reporter at the Associated Press since 2008. She was owner and publisher of the Pinnacle from 1999 to 2006 and was a magazine writer at the San Jose Mercury News from 1993 to 1999. Cone was a reporter at the Miami Herald from 1987 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $106,008. Cone is registered decline-to-state.
Harry Le Grande, 60, of Fairfield, has been reappointed to the California Student Aid Commission, where he has served since 2012. Le Grande has served as vice chancellor of student affairs at the University of California, Berkeley since 2008, where he has held multiple positions since 1981 including interim vice chancellor, associate vice chancellor of student affairs for residential and student services programs, assistant vice chancellor, executive director of housing and dining services, director of housing and dining services and associate director of housing and dining operations. Le Grande is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the American College Personnel Association and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. He earned a Master of Education degree from Oregon State University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is a $100 per diem. Le Grande is a Democrat.
Jamillah Moore, 43, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Student Aid Commission, where she has served since 2011. Moore has been chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District since 2012. She was president of the Los Angeles City College from 2007 to 2012 and director of legislative and community college services at School Services of California in 2007. Moore was senior vice chancellor at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office from 2004 to 2007 and interim superintendent and interim president of the Compton Community College District from 2005 to 2006. She served as director of government relations at the Los Angeles County Office of Education from 1998 to 2004. Moore is a member of the National Council on Black American Affairs, the National Association of Professional Women, the Community College League of California and the American Association of Community Colleges. She earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Arts degree in intercultural communication and public policy from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Moore is a Democrat.