Yesterday the Governor made a few more key appointments that are worthy of being highlighted — two Republicans and a Democrat. Especially notable is first appointment listed below – that of Nicole Rice as a Deputy Appointments Secretary. The FR has heard great things about Rice, and, of course, these positions in the Appointments Unit have a lot of sway over many other future appointees into the administration.
The two Republicans:
Nicole Rice, 34, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy appointments secretary for the Office of the Governor. Since 2004, she has served as public affairs representative for Southern California Edison. Prior to that, Rice was a legislative advocate for The Advocacy Group, now known as Strategic Council, from 2002 to 2004. She served as a consultant to the Assembly Republican Caucus from 2000 to 2002. Rice is a member of the Reach Out and Touch a Youth – Billy J. Givens Scholarship Program Board, California Black Republican Council and the Community Renewal Summit. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $83,600.
Garrett Ashley, 39, of Sacramento, has been appointed undersecretary for international trade at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. He has served as deputy chief of staff for the Office of the Governor since 2003. Ashley was previously executive director of TechNet, a high-tech political advocacy association, chief of staff for United States Congressman Steve Kuykendall and chief deputy director for the Office of Emergency Services. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $127,000.
The Democrat:
Margaret Fortune, 34, of Sacramento, has been appointed director of public affairs for the Office of the Governor. She will handle outreach efforts to tribal governments, rural and economic development, the education community, the Central Valley and the African American community. Fortune has served as director of the Governor’s Initiative to Turn Around Failing Schools since 2005. Prior to that, she was superintendent of St. HOPE Public Schools, a Sacramento-based K-12 charter school district serving 2000 students. From 2002 to 2003, she was a project manager for St. HOPE’s "Reinvent Sac High." Before joining St. HOPE, Fortune served as director of Project Pipeline Northern California Teacher Recruitment Center. Her experience also includes two years as assistant secretary in the Office of the Secretary for Education, service on the Commission on Teacher Credentialing from 2001 to 2003 and the Children and Families Commission from 1999 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,008.
Also appointed were some Parole Board members and the student Trustee for the CSU system. Read it all here.