- Nicole Elliott, 34, of San Francisco, has been appointed senior adviser for cannabis issues in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Elliott, who has been director of the San Francisco Office of Cannabis since 2017, also served as director of the Mayor’s Office of Legislative and Government Affairs from 2014 to 2017, and as director of appointments from 2011 to 2014. Elliott held multiple positions with San Francisco from 2009 to 2011, including deputy board liaison and director of scheduling. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,000. Elliott is a Democrat.
- David Hochschild, 47, of Berkeley, has been named chairman of the California Energy Commission, where he has served as a member since 2013. Hochschild was vice president of external affairs at Solaria Corp. from 2007 to 2013. Previously, his positions included executive director of PV Now from 2005 to 2007; co-founder and director of policy at the Vote Solar Initiative from 2002 to 2005; special assistant to San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown from 2000 to 2001; and program director of the President’s Award in Port Alfred, South Africa, from 1996 to 1997. Hochschild was a commissioner on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission from 2007 to 2008. Hochschild was reappointed by the governor to the Energy Commission last month, and is awaiting Senate confirmation. The compensation is $158,572. Hochschild is a Democrat.
- Janea Scott, 45, of Sacramento, has been designated vice chair of the California Energy Commission, where she has served since 2013. Scott was a deputy counselor for renewable energy and special assistant to the counselor at the U.S. Interior Department from 2009 to 2013, and held multiple positions with the Environmental Defense Fund from 2000 to 2009, including senior attorney and staff attorney. She was an AmeriCorps member working on the San Francisco Urban Service Project from 1996 to 1997. She was confirmed by the Senate to the Energy Commission in 2016 and the compensation is $153,689. Scott is a Democrat.
Newsom Names 3 to Key Roles in GO-Biz, Energy Commission
Gov. Gavin Newsom has made some key appointments — one as senior cannabis adviser to GO-Biz, and two to the California Energy Commission board.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has announced the following appointments to state positions:
