SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First: Catherine Kuhlman, 59, of Oakland, has been appointed assistant deputy secretary for oceans and coastal matters at the California Natural Resources Agency.
Kuhlman has been executive officer for the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board since 2003. Kuhlman served in various positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1978 to 2003, including water division director and director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Program. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $132,396. Kuhlman is a Democrat.
Paula LaBrie, 52, of Elk Grove, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California State Lottery. LaBrie was legislative counsel for the Automobile Club of Northern California, Nevada and Utah from 1997 to 2011 and was an attorney for MacMorris and Carbone from 1993 to 1997. She was an attorney for Carroll Burdick and McDonough from 1990 to 1993 and an account administrator at IBM from 1983 to 1987. LaBrie earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Master of Laws from McGeorge School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. LaBrie is a Democrat.
Richard Mahan, 59, of Los Angeles, has been appointed deputy director of sales and marketing at the California State Lottery. He has been president and owner of the Richard Mahan Group since 1989 and was vice president for Shapell Industries Inc. from 1986 to 1989. He was executive director of the Little Hoover Commission from 1982 to 1986 and senior manager for the Office of Auditor General of the California Legislature from 1976 to 1982. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $125,256. Mahan is registered decline-to-state.
Paula Negrete, 33, of Santa Ana, has been appointed deputy director of external affairs at the California State Lottery. Negrete has been district director for U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez since 2009 and was deputy communications director and communications director from 2003 to 2008. She served as special assistant in the Office of Governor Gray Davis from 2002 to 2003. Negrete was vice president of program and strategic partnerships at the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $92,004. Negrete is a Democrat.
Nicole Soluri, 34, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief counsel at the California State Lottery. Soluri has been senior associate attorney at Downey Brand LLP since 2009. She was an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati from 2004 to 2009. Soluri earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,008. Soluri is a Democrat.
