Calif. Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments 1.17.20

SACRAMENTO, California, Jan. 18 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release:

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments:

Jacey K. Cooper, 37, of Bakersfield, has been appointed state Medicaid director and chief deputy director of health care programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Cooper has been assistant deputy director of health care delivery systems at the Department of Health Care Services since 2016. She was vice president at Meridian Healthcare Partners and vice president of administrative services at the Kern Medical Center from 2014 to 2016. She held several positions at Kern Medical Center from 2010 to 2014, including special projects manager and executive director of managed care. Cooper was a senior project manager at COPE Health Solutions from 2009 to 2010 and held several positions at Marsh ClearSight LLC from 2005 to 2009, including quality assurance analyst and product manager. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $189,996. Cooper is a Democrat.

Anastasia Dodson, 49, of Sacramento, has been reappointed associate director of policy at the Department of Health Care Services, where she has served in that position since 2013. Dodson was a principal program budget analyst at the California Department of Finance in 2013. She was a management and policy consultant at Harbage Consulting from 2011 to 2012 and a senior policy analyst for self-sufficiency programs at the County Welfare Directors Association of California from 2007 to 2011. Dodson was a management analyst at the Contra Costa County Administrator's Office from 2006 to 2007 and human services consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2004 to 2006. She was a finance budget analyst at the California Department of Finance from 2001 to 2004 and a policy analyst at the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging in 2001. Dodson was a policy analyst at the Alameda County Social Services Agency and at the Consumers Union in 2000. She was a legal services administrator at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform from 1998 to 1999. Dodson earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $157,176. Dodson is a Democrat.

Carol Gallegos, 56, of Sacramento, has been reappointed deputy director of legislative and governmental affairs at the Department of Health Care Services, where she has served in that position since 2013. Gallegos has served in multiple positions at the Department of Health Care Services since 1995, including assistant division chief of the long-term care division and assistant deputy director of legislative and governmental affairs. She served as an associate governmental program analyst in the Medi-Cal contracting section at the California Department of Health from 1994 to 1995 and in the case development branch of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 1993 to 1994. She was a staff services analyst and associate governmental program analyst in the licensing and certification division of the California Department of Health from 1990 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $148,824. Gallegos is a Democrat.

Jared Goldman, 48, of Napa, has been reappointed deputy director and chief counsel at the Department of Health Care Services, where he has served in that position since 2016. Goldman was a partner at Best, Best and Krieger LLP from 2012 to 2016. He served in several positions at the California Prison Health Care Receivership from 2006 to 2012, including chief counsel and staff counsel. Goldman was deputy county counsel at the Santa Clara County Counsel's Office from 2001 to 2006. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $197,388. Goldman is a Democrat.

Lindy R. Harrington, 41, of Sacramento, has been reappointed deputy director of health care financing at the Department of Health Care Services, where she has served in that position since 2015 and has held several positions since 2007, including deputy director of administration, acting chief and acting assistant chief for fiscal forecasting, and chief of the financial management branch. Harrington was acting budget officer at the California Department of Public Health in 2007 and a staff services manager in the Budget Office of the California Department of Health Services from 2006 to 2007, where she served in several positions from 2000 to 2006, including staff service analyst and associate governmental program analyst. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Harrington is a Democrat.

Benjamin McGowan, 39, of Vacaville, has been reappointed deputy chief counsel at the Department of Health Care Services, where he has served in that position since 2016 and has held several positions since 2008, including senior assistant chief counsel of health care financing and staff attorney. McGowan was a research assistant at the University of San Francisco School of Law from 2004 to 2005, a legal intern at the Alameda County Public Defender's Office in 2004 and a client advisor at Marsh Inc. from 2002 to 2003. McGowan earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $193,524. McGowan is a Democrat.

Erika Sperbeck, 46, of Elk Grove, has been reappointed chief deputy director of policy and program support at the Department of Health Care Services, where she has served in that position since 2017. Sperbeck was deputy commissioner for administration and licensing services at the California Department of Insurance from 2011 to 2017. Sperbeck served as assistant secretary at the California Health and Human Services Agency from 2010 to 2011. Sperbeck was principal program budget analyst for the Administration Unit at the California Department of Finance in 2010, where Sperbeck served in several positions from 1997 to 2008, including chief of the Performance Review Unit, principal program budget analyst for the Health and Human Services Unit and associate evaluator. Sperbeck was chief of the Office of Fiscal Services at the California Department of General Services from 2008 to 2010. Sperbeck was a student assistant and tax auditor at the California Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1997. Sperbeck was confirmed to this position by the Senate in 2018 and the compensation is $189,996. Sperbeck is registered without party preference.

Adam Weintraub, 56, of Sacramento, has been reappointed assistant deputy director at the Department of Health Care Services, Office of Communications, where he has served in that position since 2015 and as an information officer from 2014 to 2015. He was a freelance journalist from 2008 to 2014, a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press in 2011 and managing editor at the Sacramento Business Journal from 2002 to 2008. Weintraub was managing editor and a reporter at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal from 1998 to 2002 and a reporter for Gannett Newspapers from 1988 to 1997. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,160. Weintraub is registered without party preference.

Norman Williams, 54, of Sacramento, has been reappointed deputy director for the Department of Health Care Services, Office of Communications, where he has served in that position since 2007. Williams was director of communications for Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi in 2007. He served as assistant deputy commissioner to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi from 2003 to 2007. Williams was assistant secretary for marketing and communications at the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency from 2000 to 2003 and director of communications at the California Manufacturers and Technology Association in 1999. He was a reporter at the Sacramento Bee from 1991 to 1999. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $148,668. Williams is a Democrat.

Hadi Makarechian, 71, of Montecito, will be reappointed effective March 2 to the University of California Board of Regents, where he has served since 2008. Makarechian has been chairman and chief executive officer at Capital Pacific Holdings since 1992. He was chairman for the Makar Properties Board of Directors from 2000 to 2008. Makarechian was president and founder at Shamron Corporation from 1979 to 1991. He is a member of the State University of New York Delta Society and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean's Council. Makarechian is a member and awardee of the Horatio Alger Association. He is a member of the audit committee and health committee and chair of the finance and capital strategies committee of the University of California Board of Regents. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Makarechian is a Republican.

Jonathan J. "Jay" Sures, 53, of Los Angeles, will be reappointed effective March 2 to the University of California Board of Regents, where he has served since 2019. Sures has been co-president at United Talent Agency since 2017, where he was managing director from 1989 to 2017. He was an assistant visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television from 2005 to 2006. Sures is vice president of the United Talent Agency Charitable Foundation. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sures is a Democrat.