Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a series of appointments to various positions within California's government. Joe Shea, from Los Angeles, will serve as Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Shea has held multiple roles in Governor Newsom's office since 2019, including Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Special Assistant to the Governor. He also worked on Newsom's transition team and campaign. Shea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. His new role does not require Senate confirmation and offers a salary of $168,000.

Allegra Curiel, based in Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs at CalRecycle. Curiel has been with the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance as a Senior Policy Advocate since 2023 and previously worked at Newlight Technologies Inc. She has held several positions at CalRecycle between 2017 and 2021. Curiel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political, Legal, and Economic Analysis from Mills College at Northeastern University. This appointment does not need Senate confirmation, with compensation set at $135,036.

Marybel Batjer from Sacramento will join the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Since 2021, Batjer has been a Partner at California Strategies and was previously President of the California Public Utilities Commission. Her extensive career includes roles such as Secretary of the California Government Operations Agency and Vice President of Public Policy at Caesars Entertainment Inc., among others. Batjer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Administration and Legal Processes from Mills College at Northeastern University. This position requires no Senate confirmation or compensation.

John Laird from Santa Cruz is appointed to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Laird currently serves as a State Senator for District 17 since 2020 and was Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency before that. His career also includes serving on the Integrated Waste Management Board and as an Assemblymember for District 27 among other roles in public service dating back to 1972. Laird holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics from UC Santa Cruz and is part of the Democratic Party. This appointment requires Senate confirmation but comes without compensation.

These appointments reflect ongoing efforts by Governor Newsom to fill key roles within state agencies with experienced individuals who have served in various capacities across different sectors.