SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments: First, Neal Asper, 61, of Yakima, Washington, has been appointed administrator of the Chula Vista Veterans Home for the California Department of Veterans Affairs. He has served as executive director of the Toppenish Nursing and Rehab Center since 2008. Previously, Asper was executive director of Willow Springs Care from 2006 to 2008, commandant at North Dakota Veterans Home from 2003 to 2006 and administrator at Rosholt Care Center from 1991 to 2003. He was a registered representative with Waddell and Reed Financial Services from 1987 to 1990. Asper was an inspector for the Division of Aviation Construction in Alaska from 1982 to 1986 and a heavy equipment operator for John Vander Wal Construction from 1976 to 1982. He was a medical specialist in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972 and served the 101st Airborne Division and the 196th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam. Asper received the Army Commendation Medal and Combat Medical Badge. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $85,000. Asper is registered undeclared.

J. Daniel Boomer, Ph.D., 63, of Elk Grove, has been reappointed to the State Independent Living Council, where he has served as a member since 2007. He has served as a special education consultant for the California Department of Education since 1997. Previously, Boomer was an administrative operations analyst III for California State University, Sacramento from 1994 to 1997 and an education consultant for the University of Colorado, Denver from 1992 to 1997. He was a project director for San Francisco State University from 1991 to 1994 and served as a program analyst for the U. S. Department of Education from 1988 to 1991. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Boomer is a Democrat.

Miguel Duarte Jr., 42, of El Centro, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. He has served as rehabilitation supervisor at the California Department of Rehabilitation since 2007, where he also served as senior vocational rehabilitation counselor from 1998 to 2007. Previously, Duarte was clinical program director for Association for Retarded Citizens-Imperial Valley from 1992 to 1998 and a co-founder of Imperial-Access to Independence Center from 1993 to 1998. He was a social worker-intern for San Gabriel Valley Regional Center from 1992 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Duarte is a Democrat.

Aref Fakhoury, 56, of Rancho Cucamonga, has been appointed warden for the California Institution for Men. He has been acting warden for the California Institution for Men since 2009, where he served as chief deputy administrator from 2005 to 2009. Previously, he worked for California State Prison-Los Angeles County as a correctional administrator/associate warden from 2002 to 2005 and a correctional counselor III from 1998 to 2002. Fakhoury also worked at the California Institution for Men as a correctional counselor III from 1996 to 1998, correctional counselor II-litigations coordinator from 1990 to 1996 and correctional counselor I from 1989 to 1990. Prior to that, he served as a correctional counselor I from 1986 to 1989 and a correctional sergeant in 1986 at the California Correctional Institution. Fakhoury was a correctional officer for the California Rehabilitation Center from 1982 to 1986. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $129,108. Fakhoury is a Republican.

Eli Gelardin, 31, of Corte Madera, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. He has served the Marin Center for Independent Living as executive director since 2008 and was program director from 2003 to 2007. Gelardin established the Marin Benefits Coalition in 2004 and served as co-chair of the World Institute on Disability, Gaps Task-Force from 2006 to 2008. He is a member of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gelardin is a Democrat.

Thomas Gibson, 42, of Sacramento, has been appointed general counsel for the Department of Fish and Game. Gibson has worked for the Department of Fish and Game as acting general counsel since January 2010 and was assistant chief counsel from 2008 to 2010. Previously, he was office managing partner for Best Best and Krieger from 2002 to 2008 and associate attorney for Hyman, Phelps and McNamara from 1999 to 2002. Prior to that, Gibson served as associate attorney for Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann and Girard from 1997 to 1999. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $120,516. Gibson is a Republican.

Ben Jauregui, 38, of San Bernardino, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. Since 2008, he has served as disability program manager at Inland Empire Health Plan, where he previously was a disability community representative from 2005 to 2008. Jauregui worked at Rolling Start as a program manager from 2003 to 2005 and an independent living specialist from 2001 to 2003. He is a founding member of the Inland Empire Disabilities Collaborative, member of the Senior and Disabled Fund of San Bernardino County Board and advisory committee member for Disability Rights California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jauregui is registered decline-to-state.

Sepideh Khosrowjah, 49, of El Cerrito, has been appointed advisor for public policy and planning for the California Public Utilities Commission. She has worked for the California Public Utilities Commission as policy advisor since 2008 and was previously senior regulatory analyst and project coordinator for energy procurement proceedings from 2005 to 2008, senior regulatory analyst from 2001 to 2005 and regulatory analyst from 1991 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $98,472. Khosrowjah is a member of the Green party.

David P. Lopez, Ed.D., 57, of San Jose, has been appointed to the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. He has served as president of the National Hispanic University since 2003. Previously, Lopez served as professor and administrator at California State University, Fresno from 1981 to 2003. He served New Mexico State University as assistant and professor from 1978 to 1981 and doctorial candidate in curriculum and instruction from 1976 to 1979. Lopez is a member of the State Board of Education, Silicon Valley Children’s Fund, National Council of La Raza, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and California Postsecondary Education Commission. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Lopez is registered decline-to-state.

Jessica Lorenz, 31, of Oakland, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. She has been associate director for the Independent Living Resource Center since 2009. Previously, Lorenz was director of public policy for Lighthouse for the Blind from 2006 to 2009. She served as intake coordinator for the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability in 2006 and instructor for the Keys to Introducing Disability in Society Project in 2005. Lorenz was a systems change coordinator at the Independent Living Resource Center from 2000 to 2005 and a technology trainer at Adaptive Technology Services from 1999 to 2000. She is a member of the board of directors for Disability Rights Advocates. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lorenz is registered decline-to-state.

Matthew Notley, 35, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant director of public affairs at the Department of Water Resources, where he previously served as special assistant to the assistant director of public affairs since 2007. He served as a communication specialist for Motorola from 2006 to 2007 and a marketing account executive at KNBR 680 AM Radio in 2006. Prior to that, Notley was district sales manager at Pyramid Breweries from 2001 to 2006 and a news editor at Chico News & Review from 1999 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $73,500. Notley is a Democrat.

Elsa Quezada, 57, of Salinas, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. She has been executive director of the Central Coast Center for Independent Living since 1993, where she was previously program director from 1988 to 1993. Quezada was executive director for Community Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Center from 1981 to 1988 and a community health worker for Alma Family Services from 1979 to 1981. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Quezada is a Democrat.

Eduardo Rea, 22, of Fresno, has been reappointed to the State Independent Living Council, where he has served as a member since 2008. He has worked for the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers as a youth organizer since 2008. Rea is a member of the Association of Youth Leadership Forums. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rea is registered decline-to-state.

Teddie-Joy Remhild, 77, of Burbank, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. Previously, she served as program administrator for the Los Angeles County In-Home Supportive Services Personal Assistance Services Council Public Authority from 2000 to 2008. Remhild was a client assistance program trainer at the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems from 1999 to 2000, client assistance program advocate at Dayle McIntosh Center from 1997 to 1999 and an independent living skills trainer at the Braille Institute of America from 1995 to 1997. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Remhild is a Democrat.

Scott Richmond, 58, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Rehabilitation Appeals Board. He served the Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Managed Care Division as chief of Medi-Cal Managed Care Policy from 2005 to 2007, chief of the Office of the Ombudsman from 2000 to 2004, chief of the Health Plan Contracting Unit number two from 1997 to 2000, associate governmental program analyst for the Policy Section from 1992 to 1997 and staff services analyst for the Office of Civil Rights from 1987 to 1992. Previously, Richmond was client services director for the Society for the Blind and Resources for Independent Living from 1978 to 1987 and was a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Department of Rehabilitation from 1977 to 1978. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Richmond is registered decline-to-state.

Paul Robinson, 63, of San Diego, has been appointed to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Governing Board. Since 1982, he has served as partner for Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg and Bagley, where he was also an associate from 1980 to 1982. Previously, Robinson was assistant to Mayor Pete Wilson from 1978 to 1980 and deputy city attorney for San Diego from 1973 to 1978. He is a member of the Real Property and Public Law Sections of the California State Bar and Real Estate and Land Use Sections of the San Diego County Bar Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Robinson is a Republican.

Marco Rodriguez, 44, of Elk Grove, has been reappointed to the State Independent Living Council, where he has served as a member since 2008. He has been managing director and senior financial advisor for Principal Financial Group since 1991 and president of the Mexican Cultural Center Board of Northern California since 2005. He is chair of the Mexican American Alcoholism Program Board and a member of the Sacramento State Alumni Association and the St. John’s Women’s Shelter Program. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rodriguez is a Republican.

Lois Salisbury, 63, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. She has served as director of the Children, Families and Communities Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation since 2002. Previously, Salisbury was chief executive of Children Now from 1993 to 2002 and a civil rights attorney at Public Advocates from 1975 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Salisbury is a Democrat.

David Tripp, 59, of Orleans, has been reappointed to the State Independent Living Council, where he has served as a member since 2003. He has worked for the Hoopa Yurok Vocational Rehabilitation Program as a program manager since 2000 and a vocational rehabilitation counselor from 1998 to 2000. Tripp has been an associate faculty member of the Klamath Trinity Branch Campus, College of the Redwoods since 1990. He is a member of the Kruk Tribe of California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tripp is a Democrat.

Melinda Wilson, 61, of Torrance, has been appointed to the Rehabilitation Appeals Board. Since 2004, she has owned and served as attorney of the Law Offices of Melinda G. Wilson. Previously, Wilson worked for the California Department of Rehabilitation as chief deputy director from 2000 to 2003 and assistant deputy director from 1974 to 2000. Wilson was an adjunct faculty member for San Diego State University School of Education from 2000 to 2003. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Schools Dollars for Scholars Advisory Board. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Wilson is a Democrat.