Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Amy Chatfield Cameron, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director in the Division of Recycling at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Cameron has been Chief Deputy Director of the California Conservation Corps since 2015. She was Education Administrator for the California Department of Education from 2013 to 2015 and Senior Administrative Analyst for the City of West Sacramento, Port of Sacramento from 2007 to 2012. She was Education Programs Assistant and Special Programs Coordinator at the California Department of Education from 2003 to 2007. Cameron was Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the California Department of Education from 2001 to 2003. She was Aide to Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan from 1999 to 2001. Cameron was Office Manager at Sacramento Loaves and Fishes from 1994 to 1996. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $169,200. Cameron is registered without party preference.
Alegria De La Cruz, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. De La Cruz has been Director of the Office of Equity at the County of Sonoma since 2020, where she was Chief Deputy at the Office of the County Counsel from 2015 to 2020. She was Supervising Staff Counsel and Regional Director at the Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 2011 to 2015. De La Cruz was a Staff Attorney and Legal Director at the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment from 2009 to 2011. She was Staff Attorney and Directing Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance from 2003 to 2009. De La Cruz earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. De La Cruz is a Democrat.
Debra Garnes, of Rio Dell, has been appointed to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. Garnes has been Mayor of the City of Rio Dell since 2019. She held several positions at the Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station in the Sacramento Municipal Utility District from 1990 to 2002 and from 1988 to 1989, including Hazardous Materials Technician and Specialist, Hazardous Materials First Responder, Asbestos and Lead Decommissioning Technician and Senior Utility Clerk and Associate. She was an Operational and Certified First Response Instructor from 2001 to 2002. Garnes was Fleet Payroll Supervisor at KLLM Transport Services from 1989 to 1990. She was a U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class, Gunner’s Mate Guns (GMG2) for the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Garnes is a Democrat.
Lisa Lien-Mager, of Davis, has been appointed Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications at the California Natural Resources Agency. Lien-Mager has served as Deputy Secretary for Communications at the California Natural Resources Agency since 2017. She held multiple positions at the Association of California Water Agencies from 2008 to 2017 and from 1990 to 1999, including Director of Communications, Communications Supervisor, Legislative Analyst and Communications Specialist. She was a Communications Consultant from 2004 to 2008, a Public Affairs Specialist at the California Bay-Delta Authority from 2001 to 2005 and a Reporter at the Milwaukee Sentinel from 1987 to 1990. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $172,512. Lien-Mager is a Democrat.
Ellen E. Martin, of Woodland, has been appointed Director of Business Development and Stakeholder Relations at the California Housing Finance Agency. Martin has been a Principal at Economic and Planning Systems Inc. since 2019. From 2005 to 2019, she held multiple positions at EPS, including Executive Vice President and Vice President. She was Policy Analyst and Legislative Coordinator at United Domestic Workers of America from 2004 to 2005. Martin earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the California Association for Local Economic Development. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $134,400. Martin is a Democrat.
David A. Rabbitt, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, where he has served since 2013. Rabbitt has been a Supervisor on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors since 2011 and an Independent Architect since 1997. He was a City Councilmember of the Petaluma City Council from 2006 to 2011 and a Project Architect at Donald K. Olsen, AIA & Associates from 1985 to 1997. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rabbitt is a Democrat.