Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.15.26
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Sean Kennedy, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Housing Policy at the California Housing and Homelessness Agency. Kennedy has been Deputy Director of Energy Investments at the California Strategic Growth Council since 2024, where he was Special Projects Analyst from 2022 to 2024. He was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 2019 to 2022. Kennedy was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the California Center for Sustainable Communities at the University of California, Los Angeles from 2018 to 2019. He was a Consultant at the Worlds Agroforestry Centre from 2013 to 2015. Kennedy was a Policy Officer at the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency from 2011 to 2012. He was a Supporter Relations Officer at World Vision Australia from 2006 to 2008. Kennedy earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Planning and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Southern Cross University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $180,780. Kennedy is a Democrat.
Varsha Sarveshwar, of Sacramento, has been appointed Policy Advisor at the California Business and Consumer Services Agency. Sarveshwar has been Deputy Director for Policy for the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight at the California Energy Commission since 2025, where she was a Senior Policy Advisor from 2024 to 2025. Sarveshwar held several positions with the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2020 to 2022, including Assistant Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Executive Assistant for Cabinet Affairs and John Gardner Public Service Fellow. She earned a Master of Science in Public Policy Research and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $140,004. Sarveshwar is a Democrat.
Charles Hopper, of Goleta, has been appointed to the California Park and Recreation Commission. Hopper has been President and Chief Executive Officer at the Santa Barbara Zoo since 2025. He was Chief Operating Officer at Birch Aquarium at Scripps from 2021 to 2025. Hopper held several roles at the Seattle Aquarium from 2008 to 2021, including Senior Business Operations Manager, Business Operations Manager, Events Operations Manager, Events Operations Supervisor, and Audio-Visual Lead. He was a Supply System Analyst in Health Services Management at the United States Air Force from 2000 to 2003. Hopper is Vice Chair of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Seattle Pacific University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hopper is a Democrat.
Michael Farrah, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Farrah has been a Legislative Aide in the Office of San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar since 2022. He was Documentary Field Producer at Blowback Productions from 2014 to 2015. Farrah held multiple positions in the Office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom from 2004 to 2011, including Executive Director of Neighborhood Services and Senior Advisor. He was a Legislative Aide in the Office of San Francisco Supervisor Gavin Newsom from 1997 to 2004. Farrah was a Legislative Aide in the Office of San Francisco Supervisor Angela Alioto in 1997. He was Political Director at Frank Jordan for Mayor from 1995 to 1996. Farrah was Policy Director at Michela Alioto for Congress from 1995 to 1996. He was Policy Director at Annmarie Conroy for Congress from 1994 to 1995. Farrah was a Legislative Aide in the Office of San Franisco Supervisor Bill Maher from 1993 to 1994. He was Campaign Organizer at Barbara Kaufman for Supervisor from 1992 to 1993. Farrah was Campaign Organizer at Joe Alioto for United States Senate in 1992. He is board member of the Burning Man Project and member of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21. Farrah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from St. Mary’s College. This position requires Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Farrah is a Democrat.
Diana Lara, of San Diego, has been appointed to the San Diego River Conservancy Governing Board. Lara has been Associate Director of Government and Community Relations at San Diego State University since 2026, where she was Community Relations Manager from 2021 to 2026. She was a District Representative in the Office of President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins from 2019 to 2022. Lara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies from San Diego State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lara is a Democrat.
Andrew Gunther, of Piedmont, has been reappointed to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2020. Gunther was Executive Director for the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration from 2000 to 2018. Gunther was Co- Founder for Applied Marine Sciences from 1991 to 2007. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Energy and Resources from University of California, Berkeley, a Masters of Energy and Resources from University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Amherst College. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Gunther is a Democrat.
Donald Young, of Morgan Hill, has been reappointed to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2021. Young has been a Senior Vice President at Salas O’Brien since 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology from University of California, Santa Barbara. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Young is a Democrat.
Jane Gray, of Goleta, has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2015. Gray has been a Senior Project Director at Dudek since 2020, where she held several other positions from 2006 to 2020 including Senior Project Manager, Project Manager, and Environmental Planner. She was a Policy Planner at Santa Barbara County Long Range and Strategic Planning from 2005 to 2006. Gray was a Policy Planner at Fresno County Community Development Division from 2003 to 2004. She was an English Language Arts and English as a Second Language Teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District in 2003. Gray was an English as a Second Language Teacher at Beverly Hills Lingual Institute in 2003. She was an English as a Second Language Teacher at Beverly Hills International School of Languages from 2002 to 2003. Gray was a Grant Writer at Southeast Area Arts Development from 2001 to 2002. She was a Regional Planning Researcher at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology from 2001 to 2002. Gray earned a Master of Science degree in Regional Planning and Management from the University of Dortmund, Germany and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of New York College at Buffalo. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Gray is a Democrat.
Farfalla Borah, of Santa Barbara, has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board where she has served since 2026. Borah held multiple positions at University of California, Santa Barbara, from 1989 to 2018, including Manager, Employee & Labor Relations, Whistleblower Coordinator, Assistant Manager, and Sexual Harassment Prevention Education Coordinator. She earned a Juris Doctor Degree from The Colleges of Law, Santa Barbara and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Borah is a Democrat.
Hector Bedolla, of Healdsburg has been reappointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2016. Bedolla has been an Agriculture Consultant at Grapewise LLC since 2011. He was a Manager and Viticulturist at Chenoweth Vineyards INC. from 2020 to 2022. Bedolla was Vineyard Manager and Viticulturist at Navarro Vineyards in 2018. He was Adjunct Faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College from 2017 to 2021. Bedolla was Vineyard and Ranch Manager at North Pacific Vineyard Management from 2016 to 2018. He was Viticulturist and Agronomist at Crop Production Services from 2013 to 2016. Bedolla was Vineyard and Ranch Manager at Stuhlmuller Vineyards from 2011 to 2013. He was a Consulting Viticulturist at Windsor Oaks Vineyards in 2011. Bedolla was Bulk Wine and Grape Broker at H and H Wine Brokerage from 2010 to 2011. He was an Agricultural Biologist at the Office of the Sonoma County Agriculture Commissioner in 2010. Bedolla was a Vineyard Manager at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates from 2000 to 2010. He was Vineyard Manager at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars from 1999 to 2000. Bedolla earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science at the University of California, Davis. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Bedolla is a Democrat.
Alexandra Hart, of Montague has been reappointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2022. Hart has been Senior Appraiser for Central California Appraisals since 2025. She has been Senior Appraiser at Land Vest Real Estate since 2022. Hart was Appraiser at Yosemite Farm Credit, ACA, from 2015 to 2022. She is a member of American Farmland Trust. Hart earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness Management and Food Marketing from the University of Kentucky. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Hart is registered without party preference.
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