Governor Gavin Newsom has announced several new appointments to key positions in state government. Trista H. Woessner-Gonzalez of Granite Bay is set to lead the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration as Director. She has served in various roles, including Chief Deputy Director since 2021 and Chief of the Tax Policy Bureau from 2016 to 2021. “This position requires Senate confirmation,” and the yearly compensation for the role is $160,428. Woessner-Gonzalez is a member of the Democratic Party.
James Hacker of Sacramento has been named Undersecretary of the California State Transportation Agency. Previously a Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Governor Newsom, Hacker has also worked as a Principal Consultant at the California State Senate Budget Committee. No Senate confirmation is needed for his appointment. Hacker will receive a salary of $218,388 and is also a Democrat.
Emily Desai, also from Sacramento, will take over as Chief Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Her career includes roles such as Senior Deputy Director for Strategic Program Planning and External Affairs since 2024. The position carries a salary of $190,536 and does not require Senate confirmation. Desai is affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Trisha Smith from Antelope has been selected as the Deputy Secretary of Administrative Services at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. With a career spanning from 2015 in the department, her previous roles include Assistant Deputy Secretary and Human Resources Director. Her new role, which does not require Senate confirmation, comes with an annual salary of $160,048. Smith is also a Democrat.
David Wesley from San Diego has been appointed Deputy Chief of Enforcement at the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, belonging to the Department of Industrial Relations. Wesley has held several titles within the division since 2017. His new role offers compensation of $192,108, and no Senate confirmation is necessary. Wesley brings a different political perspective as a Republican.
These appointments reflect the ongoing changes within California’s state administrative leadership.
