Newly minted Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is getting his Department in order appointing his own people to key positions, but also keeping and appointing reliable and competent staff from insurance commissioners past. The new people telegraph to the industry that Jones is interested in health insurance and consumer protection. The new team takes over Monday after the swearing in.
Jones is appointing Nettie Hoge as Chief Deputy Commissioner. She was Garamendi’s adviser with a special emphasis on health insurance. She managed the staff of the Consumer Services Division and developed and implemented Garamendi’s positions on health care reform. She replaces Jesse Huff.
Jones is keeping many key career people in place, such as Rick Plein, Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement, Tony Cignarale, Deputy Commissioner, Consumer Services and Market Conduct, Sherwood “Woody” Girion, Deputy Commissioner, Financial Surveillance and Robin Baker, Deputy Commissioner, Administration & Licensing, Joel Laucher, Deputy Commissioner, Rate Regulation and Ioannis Kazanis, Press Secretary, Communications and Press Relations.
He’s also re-appointed several key staff people who served Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner including General Counsel Adam Cole, Deputy General Counsel Patricia Staggs, and Byron Tucker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications and Press Relations.
Commissioner Jones’s other new appointees comprise people who served him when he was an assemblyman as well as outside experts. These include:
Janice Rocco, Deputy Commissioner, Health Policy. Rocco has garnered extensive health policy experience in the Legislature for the last 12 years. She was chief of staff to then-Assemblyman Jones. Prior to that, she was senior consultant to the Legislative Women’s Caucus and also Chief of Staff to former Assembly Member Hannah-Beth Jackson. She replaces David Link who was also Legislative Director.
Geoff Margolis, Special Counsel and Deputy Commissioner. Margolis is no stranger to CDI having worked there previously as a senior staff attorney handling very complex legal work, including litigation. He also served for 10 years as Sacramento Superior Court Temporary Judge. Most recently, he served as Principal Assistant to then- Assemblyman Dave Jones handling legislative matters. He replaces Peter Conlin.
Michael Martinez, Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director. Martinez served with the law and consulting firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP where he served as Manager of Public Affairs and Legislative Advocate. He’s represented many non-profit organizations, loc al government entities and companies looking at numerous complex policy and budget issues. He replaces David Link.
Chris Shultz, Deputy Commissioner, Community Programs. The former legislative director under then Assemblyman Jones, Shultz’s new position will entail managing insurance programs that benefit under-served communities. He previously worked as director of the Ulum Group, one of Oregon’s top five public relations and public affairs firms. This position was vacant but had been held by Heather Lambert.
Patricia Teneso Sturdevant, Deputy Commissioner, Policy. A renowned consumer protection lawyer with expertise in abusive insurance practices and health care law, she recently served as assistant chief counsel for the California Department of Managed Care. She was formerly executive director and general counsel of the National Association of Consumer Advocates in Washington D.C. This is a new position.
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Filed by Bess Shapiro in Sacramento