Gov announces more appointments

Tonya Blood, 41, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief of the Bureau of Electronic Appliance Repair, Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation. Blood has been program manager for the Bureau of Automotive Repair since 2007 and served as bureau chief for the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau at the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) from 2006 to 2007. She was a labor relations officer for DCA from 1999 to 2006. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $96,564. Blood is a Republican.



Lora Connolly, 59, of Elk Grove, has been appointed director of the California Department of Aging (CDA). Connolly has been chief deputy director at CDA since 2002 and also served as acting director from 2004 to 2007 and from 2011 to 2012. Connolly was assistant secretary of aging and long term care at the California Health and Human Services Agency from 2000 to 2002 and chief of the Office of Long Term Care at the California Department of Health Care Services from 1997 to 2000. She worked at the Department of Health Care Services from 1993 to 1997 in multiple positions, including communications coordinator. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $129,796. Connolly is a Democrat.

Peter Cooper, 46, of West Sacramento, has been appointed assistant director of the California Employment Training Panel. Cooper has been senior program manager at the California Labor Federation since 2000. He was research coordinator at the Service Employees International Union Local 250 from 1997 to 2000 and a corporate researcher at the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO from 1996 to 1997. Cooper was a senior researcher at Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch from 1995 to 1996 and a researcher in the Food and Allied Service Trades Department of the AFL-CIO from 1992 to 1995. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $94,500. Cooper is a Democrat.

Tomasa Dueñas, 27, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant deputy director of legislative and policy review at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Dueñas has served as legislative director for Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez since 2011 and was a legislative aide for Senator Jenny Oropeza from 2007 to 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $70,008. Dueñas is a Democrat.

Laura Metune, 33, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief of the Bureau for Private and Postsecondary Education. Metune has served as a consultant to the California State Assembly Higher Education Committee since 2008. She was legislative director for Senator Carole Migden from 2006 to 2008. Metune also served as a consultant for the Senate Committee on Business and Professions, the subcommittee on International Trade Policy and the California Women’s Caucus from 2001 to 2006. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,580. Metune is a Democrat.

Janet Upton, 47, of Napa, has been appointed deputy director of communications for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), where she has served since 2008. From 1998 to 2008, Upton was the public information officer for the Butte County Fire Department/CAL FIRE and a member of the command staff on CAL FIRE's Major Incident Command Team 5. Upton worked in various emergency response capacities at CAL FIRE from 1986 to 1998. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $94,244. Upton is a Republican.

Charles Winner, 71, of Beverly Hills, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board. Winner founded Winner and Mandabach Campaigns and has been partner since 1985. He is also the founder of Winner and Associates, where he has served as president since 1975. He served as a consultant to various local, state and federal campaigns from 1969 to 1975. Winner was founder and partner of Cerell Winner and Associates from 1966 to 1969. He was Southern California secretary and travel secretary to Governor Pat Brown from 1965 to 1966. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Winner is a Democrat.