Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a series of appointments to various positions within California’s state departments and agencies.
Leia Bailey, based in Sacramento, has been appointed as Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Bailey has served as the Deputy Director of Communications and Outreach within the same department since 2021. Her previous roles include Associate Executive Director at the California Craft Brewers Association and Public Relations Account Manager at Perry Communications Group. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento. This role does not require Senate confirmation, and the annual compensation stands at $193,008. Bailey is affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Miranda Flores from Folsom takes the role of Chief Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Land Use, Climate, and Innovation. Flores previously served as Deputy Secretary of Legislation at the California Natural Resources Agency. Before that, she held several positions in the Office of State Assemblymember Bill Quirk and other roles in the California State Senate. Her appointment does not require Senate confirmation. The position offers a salary of $190,536. Flores is a Democrat.
Sacramento’s Crystal Young has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Communications at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Young was previously Director of Communications for the First Partner in the Office of Governor Newsom, among other positions. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Social Justice from Loyola University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Adrian College. The position does not need Senate confirmation and comes with a $155,004 salary. Young is a Democrat.
Kevin Matulich, also from Sacramento, has been named Deputy Secretary of Clean Economy and Infrastructure at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. He recently served as a Deputy Cabinet Secretary in Governor Newsom’s office. His earlier career includes various roles at the California Employment Development Department. Matulich received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This appointment does not need Senate confirmation, with an annual salary of $181,416. He is affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Brianna Nicole Mallari of West Sacramento will serve as Special Assistant to the Secretary at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Mallari has been with the agency as an Office Technician and has held other roles, such as a Women’s Basketball Coach and Director of Scheduling. Her appointment does not require Senate confirmation, and her compensation is set at $70,692. She is a Democrat.
Lastly, Patricia Lock Dawson from Riverside has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. She currently serves as Mayor of Riverside and has a background in education and governmental affairs. Lock Dawson holds several degrees, including an MBA from Claremont Graduate University. This position requires Senate confirmation with no salary attached. Lock Dawson is registered without party preference.
