Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Bruce Saito, 64, of Long Beach, has been appointed director of the California Conservation Corps. Saito has been executive director emeritus and senior advisor at the Los Angeles Conservation Corps since 2014, where he has held several positions since 1985, including executive director and deputy director. He was program manager at the California Conservation Corps from 1976 to 1986. Saito is a member of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation and the California Prison Industry Authority. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $154,795. Saito is a Democrat.
Amy Chatfield Cameron, 43, of West Sacramento, has been appointed director of public policy at the California Conservation Corps. Cameron has been education administrator at the California Department of Education since 2013, where she has served in several positions since 2001, including education program assistant for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and afterschool office lead analyst in the Learning Support Division. She was a senior analyst of external affairs at the Port of West Sacramento from 2007 to 2012 and an aide for Yolo County Supervisor Michael McGowan from 1999 to 2001. Cameron was a coordinator of special events for Helen Thomson for Assembly in 1998, a project manager at KP Corporation from 1997 to 1998 and 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 $120,564. Cameron is registered without party preference.
Janet Coffman, 62, of Sacramento, has been appointed special advisor to the executive director at the California Public Utilities Commission. Coffman has been director of education and transformation at the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions since 2010. She was senior communications consultant at the Kaiser Permanente Labor Management Partnership from 2004 to 2010, assistant secretary of communications at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency in 2003 and deputy director of communications at the California Department of Industrial Relations from 1999 to 2003. Coffman was communications director at California State Employees Association SEIU Local 1000 from 1991 to 1999, director of internal communications at Californians to Protect Employees’ Rights in 1998, communications director for SEIU’s Western Region from 1987 to 1991 and a communications consultant for the United Automobile Workers from 1986 to 1987. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,176. Coffman is a Democrat.
Laren Leichliter, 50, of Highland, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, where he has served since 2013. Leichliter has served in several positions at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department since 1991, including deputy sheriff and fiscal clerk. He was a fiscal clerk at the San Bernardino County Hospital from 1985 to 1991. Leichliter is president of the San Bernardino County Safety Employees’ Benefit Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Leichliter is registered without party preference.
David Bejarano, 58, of Bonita, has been appointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections. Bejarano has been chief of police at the Chula Vista Police Department since 2009. He was president at Presidential Security Services from 2005 to 2009 and served as the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of California from 2003 to 2005. Bejarano served in several positions at the San Diego Police Department from 1979 to 2003, including police chief, supervisor, detective and officer and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1975 to 1978. He is president of the California Police Chiefs Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bejarano is a Republican.
Michelle Scray Brown, 51, of Hesperia, has been reappointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, where she has served since 2013. Brown has served as chief probation officer at the San Bernardino County Probation Department since 2009, where she has held several positions since 1985, including assistant chief probation officer and deputy chief probation officer. She earned a Master of Arts degree in criminal justice from California State University, San Bernardino. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Brown is a Republican.
Geoff Dean, 58, of Ventura, has been reappointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, where he has served since 2014. Dean has been sheriff at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office since 2011, where he has served in several positions since 1977, including commander, sergeant and deputy. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Business Administration degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona College of Business Administration. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Dean is a Republican.
Leticia Perez, 38, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections. Perez has been a member of the Kern County Board of Supervisors since 2013. She was a consultant for economic development and the state permitting process in the Office of California State Senator Michael Rubio from 2011 to 2012, served as an attorney at the Kern County Public Defender’s Office from 2008 to 2011 and was a community banker for Wells Fargo Bank from 2001 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Valparaiso University School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Perez is a Democrat.
