Governor Newsom Announces Appointments 6.18.24

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Myriam Valdez-Singh, of West Sacramento, has been named deputy director for legislation at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Valdez-Singh has served as deputy secretary for appointments in Governor Gavin Newsom’s office since 2021. She served as legislative director in State Senator Melissa Hurtado’s office from 2019 to 2020. Valdez-Singh was a legislative and policy attorney at Health Access California. from 2017 to 2019. She served as a legislative aide in the office of State Senator Holly Mitchell from 2015 to 2017 and in the office of State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson from 2013 to 2015, where she served as a member of the Senate 2012 to 2013. Valdez-Singh holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from California State University, Bakersfield and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $141,732. Valdez-Singh is a Democrat.

Patrick Espinoza of San Diego has been appointed to the California Veterinary Medical Board. Espinoza has served as chief deputy district attorney in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2021 and has held positions there since 1995, including division chief, team leader and assistant district attorney. Espinoza is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the La Raza Lawyers Association and the California District Attorneys Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per day. Espinoza is a Democrat.

Abbie Rosenberg, of Watsonville, has been appointed to the Respiratory Care Board of California. Rosenberg is a respiratory care practitioner at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center and owner of Abbie & Company LLC since 2000. She was a respiratory therapist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation from 2000 to 2011. Rosenberg is a life member of the California Society for Respiratory. Care and a member of the American Association for Respiratory Care. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per day. Rosenberg is a Democrat.

Clifford Waldeck of Mill Valley has been appointed to the Board of Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. Waldeck has been a substitute teacher for Marin County school districts since 2021 and a Bay Area business development manager at Indoff Inc. since 2017. He has owned Clifford Waldeck Consulting since 2008. He has overseen business development and community outreach for Blaisdell’s commercial products from 2014 until 2017. Waldeck oversaw business development and was a community grower at Give Something Back Office Supplies from 2010 to 2014. He held several positions at Waldeck Office Supplies for a Small Planet since 1981 and served as president and owner from 1997 to 2010. Waldeck is a member of the board of directors of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District and the steering committee of the Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per day. Waldeck is a Democrat.

Martin Armstrong of San Diego has been appointed to the California Landscape Architects technical committee. Armstrong has been the Owner and Studio Director of landARCH six-19 since 2023. He was a Senior Associate at GroundLevel Landscape Architecture from 2022 to 2023. Armstrong served as Senior Project Manager, Regional Landscape Architecture and Design Team Lead He was a Principal Landscape Architect, LEED Specialist, Owner and Founder at dig:designitGREEN LLC from 2009 to 2018. Armstrong is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. . He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in landscape architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per day. Armstrong is a Democrat.