DEPT. OF HEALTH SERVICES: Davis Appoints Health Chief
"Under fire from minority groups" for refusing to drop the state's appeal of Prop. 187, Gov. Gray Davis yesterday appointed the first Latina director to take the helm of the California Department of Health Services, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Gunnison, 4/30). Diana Bonta, director of health and human services for the city of Long Beach, is expected to take the reins of the health department in June. The move represents a "big jump in administrative duties for Bonta," the Los Angeles Times reports, as she shifts from a 400-worker agency with a $30 million budget to the "massive" state department, with a $23.5 billion annual budget and 6,000 workers (4/30). A registered nurse with master's and doctoral degrees in public health, Bonta has held the Long Beach post for 10 years, is the chair of the American Public Health Association and serves on the CDC's advisory committee ( Capitol Alert, 4/30). The position requires approval by the state Senate (Davis release, 4/29).
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