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California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.14.26

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Oct 14, 2026

Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.14.26

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Michael Mullaney, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Policy Advisor to the President at the California Public Utilities Commission. Mullaney has been a Senior Advisor in the Office of the President at the California Public Utilities Commission since 2020. Mullaney was a Legislative Consultant in the Office of Governmental Affairs at the California Public Utilities Commission from 2017 to 2020. He held several positions in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2013 to 2017, including Assistant Legislative Secretary and Legislative Assistant. Mullaney earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $201,432. Mullaney is a Democrat.

Cara Miyasaki, of San Jose, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California. Miyasaki was the Program Director at Foothill College from 1991 to 2023. She was Co-Owner of Tooth Fairy System from 2009 to 2017. Miyasaki was a Registered Dental Hygienist at Private Practice Offices from 2001 to 2015. She was a Registered Dental Assistant at Dental Fill-ins from 1983 to 1985. Miyasaki is a member of the Dental Assisting Council of the Dental Board of California, the California Dental Assisting Teachers Association, and the Northern California Golf Association. She earned a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of California, San Francisco. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Miyasaki is a Democrat.

Kevin Cheng, of San Marino, has been reappointed to the Dental Board of California, where he has served since 2024. Cheng has been Director of Construction at City of Hope since 2021, where he was Senior Manager from 2017 to 2021. He was a Construction Manager at Shapell Properties Inc. from 2016 to 2017. Cheng was a Project Manager at Prestige Homes from 2013 to 2016. He was a Project Manager at TIS Construction Services, Inc. from 2009 to 2013. Cheng is a member of the Planning Commission at the City of San Marino. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Cheng is registered without party preference.

Ram Vaderhobli, of Belmont, has been reappointed to the Dental Board of California, where he has served since 2025. Vaderhobli has been a Clinical Professor of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry since 2020, where he has been Dental Director for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program since 2010. He held multiple positions at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry since 2007, including Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor, Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor, and Clinical Director for Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing. Vaderhobli was California Regional Assistant Director for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at Lutheran Medical Center from 2011 to 2015. He was a Resident in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health of the University of Rochester from 2005 to 2006. Vaderhobli held multiple positions at the American Dental Association Paffenbarger Research Center from 2003 to 2004, including Research Specialist and Guest Scientist. He was a Research Assistant at Alfred University from 2002 to 2003. Vaderhobli is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is a member of the American Association for Dental Research, the American Dental Education Association, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, The Consortium for Oral Health Research and Informatics, and the Indian Dental Association. Vaderhobli earned a Master of Science degree in Biomaterials Engineering from Alfred University and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from R.V. Dental College in India. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Vaderhobli is registered without party preference.

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Monika Lee, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Dental Hygiene Board of California. Lee has been Chief of Staff at the Office of Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes of the City of Sacramento since 2023. She was Senior Communications Strategist at Western Center on Law and Poverty in 2023. Lee was Senior Manager at Bryson Gillette from 2022 to 2023. She was an Associate Communications Director at California Pan-Ethnic Health Network from 2020 to 2022. Lee was Campaign Coordinator for Paschal Roth Public Affairs from 2018 to 2020. She was a Policy and Media Analyst at We Save Lives in 2017. Lee is a Board Member of the California Center for Civic Participation and Peachtree Health. Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies from Scripps College. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lee is a Democrat.

Sonia "Pat" Hansen, of Concord, has been reappointed to the Dental Hygiene Board of California, where she has served since 2022. Hansen has been a Registered Hygienist at Janis Richard DDS since 2013. She was the Lead Registered Dental Assistant at the Contra Costa County Sealant Program from 2002 to 2010. Hansen was a Registered Dental Assistant at the Contra Costa Dental Program from 2001 to 2010. She was reserve Police Officer at the Walnut Creek Police Department from 1992 to 2000. Hansen is a member of the California Dental Association, Community Dental Health Coordinators, and Walnut Festival. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hansen is a Democrat.

Sridevi Ponnala, of Fremont, has been reappointed to the Dental Hygiene Board, where she has served since 2023. Ponnala has been Chief Integration Officer at Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center since 2021, where she has held multiple positions since 2010, including Chief Dental Officer and Dental Director. She was an Adjunct Faculty in the Chabot Hygiene Program at the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District from 2016 to 2019. Ponnala was a Clinical Director at the Native American Health Center from 2007 to 2010. She earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from M.R. Ambedkar Dental College in India. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ponnala is a Democrat.

Naleni Tribble-Agarwal, of Newark, has been reappointed to the Dental Hygiene Board of California, where she has served since 2023. Tribble-Agarwal has been a Dental Hygienist at Casey Herrera DDS since 2007. She was a Dental Hygienist at Marisa Walker DDS from 2014 to 2020. Tribble-Agarwal was a Dental Hygienist at Shital Kazi DDS from 2008 to 2018. She was a Dental Hygienist at Gurjit Randhawa DDS from 2008 to 2015. Tribble-Agarwal was a Dental Hygienist at Ross Stangeland DDS from 2008 to 2014. She was a Dental Hygienist at Richard Jenson DMD from 2008 to 2014. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tribble-Agarwal is a Democrat.

Sherman King, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the Dental Hygiene Board of California, where he has served since 2022. King was Chief Executive Officer at King Oasis LTD from 2010 to 2016. He was Director of Corporate Accounts at Infineon Technologies Inc. from 2000 to 2010. King was Applications Manager at AuraVision Inc. from 1991 to 1998. He was Principal Engineer at Western Digital Imaging Inc. from 1989 to 1991. King was Design Engineer at Advanced Micro Devices Inc. from 1983 to 1989. He was Office Manager at Eva Chau Acupuncture Clinic Office from 1982 to 2010. King is a board member of the San Francisco Chinatown Salvation Army, and a member of the Video Engineering Standards Association USA, the International Lions Club, the Chinese American Institute of Engineers and Scientists, and the Charity Cultural Services Center. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration from American Liberty University, a Master of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Santa Clara University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. King is a Democrat.

Denise Kadara, of Allensworth, has been reappointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2014. Kadara was a Senior Management Analyst and Economic Development Specialist for the City of San Mateo Community Development Department from 1997 to 2004. She was a Planning Committee Member of Tulare County Board of Supervisors for the 2nd District from 1994 to 1995. Kadara was a Senior Planner for the City of Hesperia Planning Department from 1990 to 1994. She was a Senior Planner and Administrative Analysts for the City of Fontana from 1986 to 1990. Kadara was a Project Coordinator for the City of Norwalk from 1984 to 1986. Kadara is a member of the ICARP Technical Advisory Committee and President of the Allensworth Progressive Association. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Kadara is a Democrat.

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Peter Satin, of Palm Desert, has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2018. Satin has been Conservation Program Manager at Coachella Valley Association of Governments since 2023, where he was a Regional Planner from 2020 to 2022. Satin has held multiple positions at the Mojave Desert Land Trust including Director of Land Management from 2018 to 2020 and Land Stewardship Supervisor from 2017 to 2018. He was a Wildlife Technician at the United States Forest Service in 2016. Satin was a Community Health Educator at the Peace Corps from 2011 to 2014. He earned a Master of Environmental Management degree in Ecosystem Science and Conservation from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Religion from Vassar College. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Satin is a Democrat.

Michael Mendez, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2021. Mendez has been an Associate Professor and Chancellor's Fellow for Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California at Irvine since 2025, where he was Assistant Professor from 2019 to 2025. He was a Faculty Fellow and Associate Research Scientist at Yale School of Forestry and Environment Studies from 2016 to 2019. Mendez was a Postdoctoral Scholar and Lecturer at University of San Francisco for Department of Environmental Science from 2015 to 2016. He was Legislative Director of State Governmental Relations at the University of California, Office of the President from 2008 to 2010. Mendez was a Senior Government Affairs Advocate for Blue Shield of California from 2006 to 2008. He was Senior Legislative Aide at the California State Assembly from 2003 to 2006. Mendez is a board member of the Public Policy Institute of California and Alliance for a Better Community. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, a Master of City and Environmental Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from California State University, Northridge. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $250 per diem. Mendez is a Democrat.

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