SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Sara Murillo, 59, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of administration for the California Complete Count – Census 2020. Murillo has served as assistant director of administration at the California Complete Count – Census 2020 since 2018. She was a fiscal officer at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2015 to 2018. She was chief of administration for the Forensic Services Division at the California Department of State Hospitals from 2013 to 2015, chief of accounting and fiscal systems at the California Department of Mental Health from 2007 to 2013 and manager of the Fiscal Services Division at the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board from 2003 to 2007. Murillo earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $132,000. Murillo is a Democrat.
Adam P. Romero, 39, of Los Angeles, has been appointed deputy director of executive programs at the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Romero has been director of federal policy and legal scholarship, and Arnold D. Kassoy scholar of law at the Williams Institute of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law since 2014, where he has been adjunct professor of law and faculty affiliate of the Critical Race Studies Program since 2018. Romero was senior litigation associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr from 2010 to 2014. He served as a law clerk for Judge Shira A. Scheindlin at the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2010 and for Judge M. Margaret McKeown at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 2008 to 2009. He was an investigator at the Bronx Defenders from 2002 to 2004. Romero was a community organizer at Community Voices Heard in 2002. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $153,372. Romero is a Democrat.
Jennifer Simoes, 44, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of legislation at the Department of Consumer Affairs. Simoes has been chief of legislation at the Medical Board of California since 2010. She was assistant deputy director of legislative and governmental affairs at the California Department of Public Health from 2008 to 2010. Simoes was legislative coordinator and staff services manager at the Department of Public Health and Department of Health Services from 2003 to 2008. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $134,772. Simoes is a Democrat.
Bertha Sanchez Hayden, 38, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Professional Fiduciaries Advisory Committee. Sanchez Hayden has been caregiver services directing attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services since 2019, where she was family matters project director from 2011 to 2019. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar-Trust & Estates and the International Guardianship Network. Hayden earned a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hayden is a Democrat.
Susan Friedman, 79, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Friedman was an Emmy-award winning network news producer for NBC News from 1982 to 2008 and from 1968 to 1977. She was a reporter and producer for the local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from 1977 to 1982. She is a founding member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights Board of Directors and vice chair and commissioner of the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Friedman is a Democrat.
Richard Guggenhime, 79, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the State Compensation Insurance Fund. Guggenhime has been senior counsel at Perkins Coie since 2016. He was senior counsel at Schiff Hardin from 2008 to 2016. Guggenhime was a partner at Heller Ehrman from 1970 to 2006. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $60,797. Guggenhime is a Democrat.
Yong Ping Chen, 57, of Camarillo, has been appointed to the California Acupuncture Board. Chen has been a professor at Alhambra Medical University since 2020 and a professor at American University of Complementary Medicine and owner of Chen’s Chinese Medicine since 2002. She was director of experimental acupuncture and laboratory at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from 2000 to 2002, associate professor and deputy chief physician at Southern Medical University from 1989 to 1997, and physician and proctologist at Linhai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from1984 to 1986. Chen is a member of the California Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine Association, California Acupuncturist United Association, American Alliance for Professional Acupuncture Safety, and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. She earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in traditional Chinese medicine-gastroenterology from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and a Master of Science degree in classical Chinese medicine from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation in $100 per diem. Chen is a Democrat.
Nancy Melekian, 72, of Santa Barbara, has been reappointed to the 19th District Agricultural Association, Santa Barbara Fair and Exposition Board of Directors. Melekian has been executive show manager for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show since 2015. She was president and chief executive officer at Milestone Publishing Inc. from 1983 to 2012. Melekian was a co-founder of the Festival Artist Inc. from 1973 to 1992. She is a docent for Lotusland and a member of Channel City Camera Club, Orchid Society of Santa Barbara, Puerto Vallarta Sister City Organization and the American Orchid Society. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Melekian is a Republican.
Salvatore N. Milazzo III, 42, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the 19th District Agricultural Association, Santa Barbara Fair and Exposition Board of Directors. Milazzo has been director and portfolio management executive at Union Bank and HighMark Capital Management since 2014. He was portfolio manager at Montecito Bank and Trust from 2009 to 2014. Milazzo was an investment analyst at Stone River Capital from 2004 to 2008. He is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute and Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Milazzo is registered without party preference.
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