California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.24.25
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~ In a recent press release, Governor Gavin Newsom announced several appointments to key positions within the state government. These appointments, which were made on October 24, 2025, include Maurice Lyles as Deputy Secretary of Intergovernmental Relations at the California Environmental Protection Agency, Emily Wimberger as Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor to the Chair at the California Air Resources Board, Marco Bárcena to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Mountains Conservancy Governing Board, and Linh Tran also to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Mountains Conservancy Governing Board.

Maurice Lyles, a resident of La Mesa, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary of Intergovernmental Relations at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Lyles brings a wealth of experience to this role, having previously served as Southern California Regional Director at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2024. Prior to that, he was Regional Director for Greater San Diego and Orange Counties from 2019 to 2024. Lyles also has a background in research and program management, having worked as a Research Associate at the University of California, San Diego and as a Program Manager at San Diego Youth Development Office. He also held various roles at the Office of Senator Barbara Boxer in the United States Senate from 2010 to 2016. Lyles holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and African American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. His appointment does not require Senate confirmation and he will receive a compensation of $175,008. Lyles is a member of the Democratic party.

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Emily Wimberger has been appointed as Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor to the Chair at the California Air Resources Board. Wimberger currently serves as Managing Partner at Hua Nani Partners and brings extensive knowledge in climate economics to her new role. She previously worked at Rhodium Group as a Climate Economist from 2019 to 2023 and held multiple positions at the California Air Resource Board from 2013 to 2019, including Chief Economist and Air Pollution Specialist. Wimberger also has a background in research, having worked as a Researcher at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy, Environmental, and Mineral Economics from Pennsylvania State University. Wimberger's appointment does not require Senate confirmation and she will receive a compensation of $210,000. She is also a member of the Democratic party.

In addition to these appointments, Governor Newsom has also appointed Marco Bárcena and Linh Tran to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Mountains Conservancy Governing Board. Bárcena, a resident of Bell Gardens, has been serving as City Councilmember since 2018 and has held various roles within the city since 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. His appointment does not require Senate confirmation and he will receive a compensation of $75 per diem. Tran, who resides in El Monte, currently works as Field/Ranger Crew Lead for Angeles National Forest Arcadia for the United States Department of Agricultural Forest Service and as Program Coordinator at Day One. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Like Bárcena's appointment, Tran's appointment does not require Senate confirmation and she will receive a compensation of $75 per diem.

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These appointments come on the heels of Governor Newsom's recent deployment of California Volunteers and the California National Guard on a humanitarian mission to assist food banks during the ongoing government shutdown that has delayed SNAP benefits for families in need. The Governor also celebrated CAL FIRE's first graduation ceremony at the new Atwater Training Center, where 38 graduates will take on roles as frontline leaders in emergency response. Additionally, Governor Newsom has urged the Supreme Court to strike down President Trump's illegal tariffs, filing an amicus brief in opposition to the Administration's actions.

As California continues to face various challenges and issues, these appointments and actions by Governor Newsom demonstrate his commitment to addressing them and ensuring the well-being of the state and its residents.

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