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Among the new state officials of various kinds are Susan Kennedy, Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, and Kimberly Belshé, his cabinet secretary for health and human services — both named to the board that will oversee California's new health benefit exchange. Schwarzenegger press secretary Aaron McLear was named to the California Film Commission — a popular spot for appointments today. These positions are unsalaried. Here's the statewide list; some of local note are listed after the jump with brief bio info from the governor's office.
Hilary Rice Armstrong, 45, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Film Commission. Since 2006, she has been president of Fire of Life Films and executive producer for California State of Mind—the Legacy of Pat Brown. Additionally, she has been development director for My California Now since 2007.
Fred Baron, 56, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Film Commission. He has been executive vice president of Feature Production for Twentieth Century Fox since 2002.
Steve Dayan, 53, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Film Commission, where he has served as a member since 2008. Since 1999, he has worked as a business agent for the Teamsters Local 399 representing Drivers, Location Managers and Casting Directors.
Lindy DeKoven, 57, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Film Commission. She has served as president of DeKoven Entertainment since 2002. DeKoven was executive vice president of NBC Entertainment from 1993 to 2000 and vice president of Warner Brothers Television from 1991 to 1993.
Christine Essel, 60, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Film Commission, where she has served as a member since 2008 and from 2004 to 2008. Since May 2010, she has been chief executive officer for the Community Redevelopment Agency for the city of Los Angeles.
Kimberly Freeman, 42, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California African American Museum Board of Directors, where she has served since 2008. She has served as regional director of community partnerships at Sempra Energy since 2006.
Janet Knutsen, 57, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Film Commission, where she has served as a member since 2008. Since December 2010, she has been a freelance producer and production manager. Previously, Knutsen was a production manager for Warner Horizon from June 2010 to December 2010, production manager for Nickelodeon in 2009 and production manager for Warner Bros. from 2008 to 2009.
Michael Miller, 42, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Film Commission, where he has served as a member since 2006. Since 1990, Miller has worked for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) where he has been division director of the Motion Picture and Television Production Department since 2008 and served as eighth international vice president of the IATSE General Executive Board.
Wendy Mitchell, 40, of Los Angeles has been appointed to the California Coastal Commission. She has been president of WM Consulting since 2006. Previously, Mitchell was vice president of government and public relations for Woodside Natural Gas from 2005 to 2006 and she was chief of staff for Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, she was vice president of external affairs for Cadiz from 2000 to 2002.
Joseph Phillips, 48, of West Hills, has been reappointed to the California African American Museum Board of Directors, where he has served as a member since 2005. Since 1995, he has served as president/owner of DBA Productions.
Daniel Robbins, 43, of Calabasas, has been reappointed to the Commission on Uniform State Laws, where he has served as a member since 2007. Since 2000, he has been the vice president, associate general counsel and chief technology counsel for the Motion Picture Association of America.
Eduardo Vega, 43, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where he has served as a member since 2007. He has served as chief of the division of empowerment and advocacy for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health since 2007.
Francille Wilson, 63, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California African American Museum Board of Directors. She has served as an associate professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California since 2008.