Governor announces appointments

Henry Abarbanel, 68, of Del Mar, has been appointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. He has been a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and a research physicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography since 1983. Abarbanel served on the Del Mar City Council from 1992 to 1996 and 2000 to 2008. He was chair of the San Diego Metro Wastewater Commission from 2005 to 2008. Abarbanel received his doctorate in physics at Princeton University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Abarbanel is a Democrat.


Eric Anderson, 54, of Escondido, has been appointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served as a member since 2002. Anderson is a farmer and vice president of La Costa Flower Shop and Nursery. He has been a member of the board of directors of the San Diego County Farm Bureau since 1991 and was president from 1996 to 1998. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Anderson is a Libertarian.

Maria Camacho, 32, of Beverly Hills, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. She has been a senior account manager at Consensus Inc. since 2008. Camacho was director of public affairs for J.S. Rosenfield and Company from 2002 to 2003 and from 2006 to 2008. She was a co-mediator for the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution in 2005. Camacho received her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Camacho is a Democrat.

John Corbett, 64, of McKinleyville, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served as a member since 2002. He has been senior legal counsel to the Yurok Tribe since 2003. Corbett was general manager of the North Coast Cooperative from 1983 to 2002. He was a special magistrate judge for the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1979 to 1982. Corbett received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Corbett is a Democrat.

Jon Costantino, 42, of Grass Valley, has been appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. He has been a senior advisor at Manatt Phelps and Phillips, LLP since 2010. Costantino was a climate change planning manager at the California Air Resources Board from 2007 to 2010 and a legislative analyst there from 2000 to 2007. He was an air pollution engineer at the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District from 1992 to 2000. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Costantino is registered decline-to-state.

William Massey, 68, of Forestville, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board where he has served since 2000. Massey has been professor emeritus at Santa Rosa Junior College since 2006. He was a professor of economics and political science there from 1974 to 2006. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Massey is a Democrat.

Maria Mehranian, 54, of La Canada, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board where she has served since 2008. She has been the managing partner of the Cordoba Corporation since 1992 and vice president of urban transportation planning there from 1987 to 1992. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mehranian is a Democrat.

Jennifer Lester Moffitt, 31, of Yolo, will be appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. She has been managing director of Dixon Ridge Farms, an organic walnut farm and processor, since 2006 and marketer at Dixon Ridge Farms from 2004 to 2006. Moffitt served as an education, outreach and research specialist for the American Farmland Trust from 2002 to 2005. She was appointed to the food safety working group of the California Walnut Board in 2009. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Moffitt is a Democrat.

Tomas Morales, 48, of San Diego, has been appointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. He has been a partner in Golub and Morales, LLP since 2004. Morales was an attorney with Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire from 2000 to 2004 and a partner with Strong and Morales from 1994 to 2000. Morales received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Morales is a Democrat.

Irma Munoz, 59, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. She is the founder and president of Mujeres de la Tierra where she has served since 2005. Munoz was a senior manager at TreePeople from 2001 to 2003. She was national director of marketing and customer service for the United States Small Business Administration from 1994 to 2000. Munoz received her Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Munoz is a Democrat.

Edward Muzik, 60, of Indian Wells, has been appointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served as a member since 2007. He has been general manager of the Hi-Desert Water District of Yucca Valley since 2007 and he was chief financial officer from 2002 to 2006. Muzik was director of operations and finance at Vicom Systems Inc. from 1993 to 2002. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Muzik is a Republican.

Peter Pumphrey, 65, of Chalfant, has been appointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served as a member since 2010. He was a deputy district attorney for San Joaquin County from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy public defender there from 1991 to 2001. He has served on the Chalfant Valley Community Fire District Commission since 2007. Pumphrey received his Juris Doctor degree from Humphreys College of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Pumphrey is a Democrat.

Carmen Ramirez, 35, of Atwater, has been appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. She has been counsel in the Law Offices of Fagalde, Albertoni and Flores, LLP since 2010. Ramirez was an associate attorney with Allen, Fagalde, Albertoni and Flores from 2009 to 2010. She was a redevelopment associate for the City of Merced Office of Economic Development from 2003 to 2007. Ramirez received her Juris Doctor degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ramirez is a Democrat.

William Ruh, 52, of Montclair, has been appointed to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served as a member since 2001. He has been director of government affairs for the Citrus Valley Association of Realtors since 2001. Ruh has been a member of the Montclair City Council since 1998. He was a consultant to the Joint Legislative committee on the Alameda Corridor East from 1999 to 2001. Ruh was a field representative for Congressman Jay Kim from 1995 to 1999. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ruh is a Republican.

Robert Schneider, 63, of Davis, has been appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he served as a member from 2000 to 2006. He has been a partner Verve Enterprises since 1995. Schneider was a partner at Bob Schneider Contractor, Ridge Builders Group, West Davis Associates from 1977 to 1997. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Schneider is a Democrat.

Irene Tynes, 50, of Crescent City, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Tynes is a registered nurse who served as a Del Norte County Unified School District school nurse from 2005 to 2010. She was a member of the Crescent City Council from 2003 to 2008 and served as Mayor of Crescent City from 2007 to 2008. Tynes is currently serving as a 2011-12 California Women’s Foundation fellow. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tynes is a Democrat.