SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Marybel Batjer, 63, of Sacramento, has been appointed chair of the California Complete Count Census Committee. Batjer has served as secretary of the California Government Operations Agency since 2013. She served as cabinet secretary in the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2003 to 2005, chief of staff in the Office of Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn from 2000 to 2003 and undersecretary at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 1997 to 1998. Batjer was chief deputy director of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing from 1992 to 1997 and special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy from 1989 to 1992. She was a national security affairs special assistant for President Ronald Reagan and deputy executive secretary for the National Security Council from 1987 to 1989. Batjer was assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and deputy secretary of defense from 1981 to 1987 and director of political planning for the National Women’s Political Caucus from 1980 to 1981. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation is. Batjer is a Democrat.
Bruce Crane, 59, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief counsel at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has been acting chief counsel since 2018 and an attorney since 2000. He was an attorney at the California Department of Veterans Affairs from 1997 to 1999. Crane 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 $174,996. Crane is a Democrat.
Lande U. Ajose, 52, of Oakland, has been reappointed to the California Student Aid Commission, where she has been chair since 2017 and has served as a member since 2014. Ajose has been executive director at California Competes since 2015, where she was deputy director from 2011 to 2015. She was a managing director at Informing Change from 2006 to 2011, a research associate at the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation from 2005 to 2007, a senior program officer at the James Irvine Foundation from 2001 to 2005, a project manager at the Evaluation and Training Institute from 1991 to 1993, a program associate at Philanthropy New York from 1990 to 1991 and an admission officer at Vassar College from 1987 to 1989. Ajose is a commissioner at the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission and a member of the Institute for Higher Education Policy Board. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in urban and regional studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ajose is a Democrat.
Nancy Rose Anton, 66, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the California Student Aid Commission, where she has served since 2010. She was a principal consultant at the Senate Education Committee from 1992 to 2009, a consultant at the Legislative Analyst’s Office from 1979 to 1992, an assembly fellow for the California State Assembly from 1978 to 1979 and an assistant administrator for the Alameda County Administrator’s Office from 1979 to 2002. Anton is a member of Crocker Art Museum, California State Parks Association, Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, Public Television Sacramento, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club and Phi Beta Kappa. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Anton is a Democrat.
Alexander Cruz De Ocampo, 39, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California State Summer School for the Arts Board of Trustees, where he has served since 2015. Cruz de Ocampo has been a senior consultant at Saban Capital Group since 2015, where he has held several positions since 2002, including director of government affairs and senior program manager. Cruz de Ocampo was managing director at the Saban Family Foundation from 2011 to 2014 and special assistant to the president of television at Castle Rock Entertainment from 1996 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cruz de Ocampo is a Democrat.
Lilia Gonzales Chavez, 64, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the California State Summer School for the Arts Board of Trustees, where she has served since 2015. Gonzales Chavez has been executive director at the Fresno Arts Council since 2011. She was a program officer at the San Joaquin Valley Workforce Funders Collaborative from 2009 to 2011 and a field representative for California State Assemblymember Juan Arambula from 2006 to 2009. She was principal administrative analyst for the County of Fresno from 1997 to 2006 and executive director at Arte Americas from 1987 to 1997. Gonzales Chavez is a member of the League of Mexican American Women. She earned a Master of Arts degree in administrative leadership from Fresno Pacific University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gonzales Chavez is a Democrat.
Kelli Bernard, 49, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Designated Local Authority for Former Redevelopment Agency. Bernard has been executive vice president and national cities leader at AECOM since 2016. She was deputy mayor in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office from 2013 to 2016. Bernard is a member of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Land Institute and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. She earned a Master of Arts degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bernard is a Democrat.
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