SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Daniel Torres, 42, of Sacramento, has been appointed director of immigrant integration in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Torres has been chief of the Immigration Branch at the California Department of Social Services’ Welfare to Work Division since 2015. He was deputy director of programs and new initiatives at California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. from 2010 to 2015. Torres was an attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center from 2008 to 2010, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2005 to 2008 and at the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation from 2001 to 2005. He was a clinical instructor at the University of California, Davis School of Law Immigration Law Clinic from 2004 to 2005. Torres earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. This position does not require senate confirmation and the compensation is $127,992. Torres is a Democrat.
Carol Baker, 64, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Water Commission. Baker was chair of the California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision Blue Ribbon Citizen Commission in 2011 and an independent water policy consultant at Kaufman Campaign Consultants in 2009. She was chief policy consultant for natural resources and environmental protection policy and deputy budget director in the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office from 2000 to 2008. Baker was principal budget analyst at the California Department of Finance from 1994 to 2000 and from 1985 to 1992, where she was a staff budget analyst from 1982 to 1985. She was a deputy director for administration and management at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 1992 to 1994. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Baker is a Democrat.
Andrew Ball, 62, of Piedmont, has been reappointed to the California Water Commission, where he has served since 2010. Ball has been western region president at Suffolk Construction since 2012. He was chief executive officer at Webcor Builders from 1994 to 2012 and president at AJ Ball Construction from 1992 to 1994. Ball was executive vice president at Koll Construction from 1986 to 1992, a partner at Davis Development from 1984 to 1986 and senior project manager at CL Peck Contractor from 1978 to 1984. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ball is a Republican.
Rachelle Arizmendi, 43, of Sierra Madre, has been appointed to the State Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Intervention. Arizmendi has been vice president and chief operating officer at the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment since 2016 and has served as a member of the Sierra Madre City Council since 2014. She was executive director at 2-1-1 California from 2014 to 2016, an adjunct professor at Pasadena City College from 2013 to 2015 and held several positions at the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment from 1998 to 2014, including director and nutrition coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Program. Arizmendi was an independent consultant from 1998 to 2001 and a clinic supervisor at Northeast Valley Health from 1997 to 1998. She is a member of the League of California Cities. Arizmendi earned a Master of Science degree in family and consumer science from Eastern Illinois University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Arizmendi is registered without party preference.
Olivia Sison, 17, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California State Board of Education. Sison has been secretary of the Student Council at C.K. McClatchy High School since 2015, where she has been a student since 2013. She has held several positions at the Sacramento Youth Commission since 2014, including events coordinator and treasurer. She is a member of the California Scholarship Federation. Sison has been a ballet dancer since 2001, performing with the Sacramento Ballet and as a soloist with the Crockett-Deane Ballet Company. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sison is not registered to vote.
Lisa Thong, 32, of Rosemead, has been appointed to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Thong has been account supervisor of public relations at IW Group Inc. since 2014. She was senior special assistant in the California State Controller’s Office from 2012 to 2014, an editorial assistant at HarperCollins Publishers from 2010 to 2011 and administrative director at the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment from 2008 to 2009. Thong was a field representative in the Office of California State Senator Jack Scott from 2006 to 2008 and development assistant at East West Players from 2004 to 2005. Thong is a member of the OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Los Angeles Chapter. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Thong is registered without party preference.
Norman Franklin, 50, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the 52nd District Agricultural Association, Sacramento County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2012. He has been a certified competent conveyance mechanic at Otis Elevator since 2007. Franklin was a certified competent conveyance mechanic at ThyssenKrupp Elevator from 2006 to 2007, at Kone Inc. from 2003 to 2005 and at Mitsubishi Electric America from 2000 to 2005. He is president of the Elk Grove Historical Society. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Franklin is a Democrat.
Despina Kiriakes, 29, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the 52nd District Agricultural Association, Sacramento County Fair Board of Directors. Kiriakes has been a consultant for Bride To Be Couture since 2015. She was an account executive at Moroch Partners in 2015 and held several positions with the Sacramento Kings from 2009 to 2015, including an inside sales representative, a guest information specialist and an experience center manager. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Kiriakes is registered without party preference.
Lizette Mata, 29, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the 52nd District Agricultural Association, Sacramento County Fair Board of Directors. Mata has served as deputy secretary of state for special projects in the California Secretary of State’s Office since 2016. She was director of policy and strategic planning for State Board of Equalization member Fiona Ma from 2015 to 2016 and director of special projects at the California Department of Motor Vehicles from 2013 to 2015. Mata served as director of communications in the Office of California State Senator Ricardo Lara from 2012 to 2013 and in the Office of California State Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma from 2011 to 2012. She was secretary of the California State Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs in 2011 and served in several positions in the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office from 2008 to 2011, including press deputy and press aide. Mata is a member of the California Latino Capitol Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mata is a Democrat.
James Perham, 56, of Elk Grove, has been appointed to the 52nd District Agricultural Association, Sacramento County Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2010. Perham has been owner at Perham Ranch since 1982 and vice chair of the Cosumnes Community Planning Advisory Council since 2004. He is a member of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Perham is a Republican.