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Calif. Governor BrownSACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Feda Almaliti, 35, of Fremont, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as the Area Board V Representative, where she has served since 2012. Almaliti has been a self-employed full-time advocate for persons with disabilities since 2005.

She has been co-chair of the Bay Area Autism Regional Taskforce, Insurance Subgroup since 2010 and founded the Fremont Special Education Parent Teacher Association in 2008. Almaliti was appointed by Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg to the State Advisory Commission on Special Education, where she has served since 2012. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Almaliti is a Democrat.

Rebecca Donabed, 32, of Tulare, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as the Area Board VIII Representative, where she has served since 2012. Donabed was a volunteer at Resources for Independence, Central Valley from 2010 to 2011 and a volunteer at the State of California National Core Indicator in 2010. Donabed served as a life quality assessment volunteer at the State of California Life Quality Assessment Project from 2006 to 2009 and as a volunteer office clerk at the Tulare Salvation Army from 2004 to 2005. Donabed was a volunteer office clerk at the Center for Independent Living in 2003. She graduated from the Partners in Policymaking California Program in 2008 and is a member of the Visalia Disability Advocacy Team. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Donabed is a Republican.

Carmela Garnica, 56, of Blythe, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as the Area Board XII Representative, where she has served since 2012. Garnica has been program director at Escuela De La Raza Unida since 2000, where she was executive director from 1980 to 1998. She served as site supervisor at Campesinos Unidos from 1998 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Garnica is a Democrat.

Michael McQuinn, 28, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant to the general counsel at the California Department of Corporations. McQuinn was a law clerk at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in 2012 and was a legal extern at the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2011. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $56,088. McQuinn is a Democrat.

Andrew Sturmfels, 29, of West Sacramento, has been appointed senior permit assistance specialist at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Sturmfels has served in various positions at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control since 2011, including planning and performance manager. He was director of food and beverage operations and corporate task force manager at Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants from 2006 to 2010 and senior food and beverage manager at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis from 2005 to 2006. Sturmfels earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $65,004. Sturmfels is registered decline-to-state.