Governor Newsom announces appointments to regional water quality control boards

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a series of appointments and reappointments to California’s regional water quality control boards. These positions, which oversee water resources and environmental management across various regions, require Senate confirmation and offer compensation of $250 per diem.

Dominic Roques of San Luis Obispo has been appointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Roques previously served as Senior Engineering Geologist at the same board from 2001 to 2021, and held roles at the California State Water Resources Control Board, California Coastal Conservancy, BASELINE Environmental Consulting, and as Principal of Roques Wildland Resources. He currently serves as Board President of the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District. Roques holds graduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, Austin. He is a Democrat.

Alex Rodriguez of Santa Barbara has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board after serving since 2023. Rodriguez is CEO of Conduit Government Relations and President of Diversity Consulting Group LLC. He also leads La Cumbre Mutual Water Company and serves on advisory councils for both UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Drinking Water Advisory Council. Rodriguez earned his bachelor’s degree from Antioch University Santa Barbara and is a Democrat.

Stephanie Harlan of Capitola returns to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board where she has served in several terms since 2018. Harlan was previously a City Councilmember for Capitola over multiple decades and worked as a registered nurse at local hospitals. She is involved with organizations including Friends of the Capitola Library, League of Women Voters, Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, among others. Harlan is a Democrat.

Elena Lee Reeder of Sacramento continues her role on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board after serving since 2022. Lee Reeder presides over Reclamation District 1000’s board and previously worked in legislative offices in both Assemblymember David Chiu's office and Senator Leland Yee's office in various capacities including press secretary and legislative aide. She holds degrees from UC Davis and is a Democrat.

Arthur Baggett of El Portal remains on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board following service that began earlier this year. Baggett brings experience as partner at AG Baggett & PJ Weber Inc., adjunct faculty at San Joaquin College of Law, past member (and chair) at State Water Resources Board, former Mariposa County Supervisor, with advanced degrees in law and ecosystem management from San Joaquin College of Law and Antioch College respectively. He is a Democrat.

Nancy Wright from Whitewater has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board where she has served multiple terms since 2000; she co-owns Peter Wright General Contractor. Wright is a Republican.

Sabrina Ashjian will continue serving on the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board after joining in 2022. Ashjian founded Ashjian Consulting in 2019, taught law clinics at UCLA School of Law until this year, led state advocacy for The Humane Society US branch in California, chaired cannabis regulatory appeals panels, prosecuted environmental crimes as deputy district attorney in Fresno County, worked as an attorney with Stammer McKnight Barnum & Bailey LLP, public defender for Fresno County Public Defender’s Office; she also holds leadership roles with California Women Lead, American Red Cross Pacific Coast Chapter, ABA Civil Rights & Social Justice Section Environmental Justice Committee—and earned graduate degrees from Pepperdine University (JD/MBA), USC (MA Journalism), George Washington University (BBA). Ashjian is a Democrat.

Norma Camacho remains on Los Angeles’ board after service beginning in 2022; she was formerly CEO/COO for Watersheds at Santa Clara Valley Water District through 2020 following two decades with Ventura County Public Works Agency overseeing watershed protection projects among other roles; Camacho serves on boards for Stillwater Sciences/Wateshed Solutions Network—she holds an engineering degree from Stanford University—and is a Democrat.

Gregory Guisti stays with North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board after more than ten years' service; he directs forest ecology programs for UC Cooperative Extension since 1985 with prior biology work for government agencies; he participates actively in professional societies focused on forestry/wildlife—he holds graduate training from CSU San Francisco—and registers without party preference.

Betty Olson continues her tenure with San Diego’s board begun in 2014; Olson retired as Professor Emeritus from UC Irvine School Of Engineering but retains leadership roles within water industry groups such as Santa Margarita Water Board/Association Of Clean Water Administrators—she holds advanced science degrees from UC Berkeley/UC Irvine—and registers without party preference.

Mark Ransom returns to San Francisco Bay Regional board after joining last year; he spent three decades consulting on environmental issues including partnerships at ERM West Inc., management roles at Southern Pacific Transportation Company/Ecology And Environment Inc./California Waste Management Board—Ransom trained as an engineer at Cal Poly Humboldt—and identifies as Democrat.

Sixto “Al” Lopez continues his appointment to Santa Ana’s board begun last year following community development work founding Inland Empire Infill Homes/serving Corona city government; Lopez registers without party preference.

John Scandura remains part of Santa Ana’s regional body after several years’ service following decades managing remediation programs for CA Department Of Toxic Substances Control/staff scientist work—Scandura studied environmental science at UNC Chapel Hill/Biological Sciences UC Irvine—and registers without party preference.