California Surveyors Forums

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.

Diane Hamwi, 47, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. Hamwi has been principal and owner at DCH Advisors Inc. since 2008. She was director of development and marketing at EMILY's List from 2010 to 2011, western states finance director at Hillary Clinton for President from 2007 to 2008 and national finance director at Jon Tester for Senate in 2006. Hamwi was an independent political consultant from 2003 to 2008, Southern California finance director for the Governor Gray Davis Reelection Campaign from 2001 to 2002 and interim director at the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism in 2000. She served as a policy analyst at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research from 1999 to 2000 and was a fundraiser at Jane Harman for Governor in 1998. Hamwi was an account executive at Rogers and Associates from 1997 to 1998 and special assistant to the state director of the Clinton-Gore Coordinated Campaign in California from 1995 to 1996. Hamwi earned a Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hamwi is a Democrat.

Coby King, 52, of West Hills, has been appointed to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. King has been a public affairs executive at Ek and Ek since 2012. He was senior vice president for California corporate and public affairs at the MWW Group from 2008 to 2012, president and chief executive officer at Coby King Communications from 1999 to 2008 and vice president, public affairs at Rogers and Associates from 1997 to 1999. King was an attorney at Manatt Phelps and Phillips LLP from 1995 to 1997, legal counsel at the California State Board of Equalization from 1993 to 1995 and an attorney at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom LLP from 1991 to 1993. King earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. King is a Democrat.

Are these the "public" positions on the Board?

Yes, filling the two long vacant public positions.

They couldn't find any engineers?
Big surprise they are hardcore dumocrats.

Public Member appointees are not allowed by law to be licensees of the board for which they serve on.

compensation is $100 per diem

Pardon my ignorance, but why would a high-powered political operative take a BPELSG appointment for a hundred bucks a day? Is that per diem paid for every calendar day of the year, or just when they meet? There must be more to the story than meets the eye.

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Jim,

Most appointees for the boards under DCA only receive the $100 day and it is only when they are actually performing some duty required of them (i.e., attending board meetings, etc.). Same compensation for TAC members as well. It's been my experience that maybe half of the appointees ever request it.

I've never been a board member so I do not know why and could only speculate, which I am not going to do. I will say that public members probably have different motivation than licensed board members and the money is most likely not the motivation for either group. Next time you see Pat Tami, or attend a board meeting, or see a TAC member, ask them and see what they tell you.

I have serious doubts about the effectiveness of a political hack on a professional State Board and especially a democrat nominated by Moonbeam!

Mr Williams, this is not the place to air political views. Apart from that, whether you like or disapprove of the person elected to the office of governor is immaterial. The fact is the voters of California have spoken in this matter and they ELECTED Governor Brown. Your tossing around the appellation "Moonbeam",does a disservice to your good name and reputation. When you spout off in this fashion it goes a long way to discredit your stature as a saga and reliable elder.

Mr. Williams, if you persist in this childish behavior, then I will have no other recourse but to taunt you a second time.

http://youtu.be/FWBUl7oT9sA

Whatever!

Do you have any advice on the abilities of a democrat political hack on the survey board?

" high-powered political operative " is better than "political hack".

One would think so. It certainly sounds better.

I do know that we have this Board (BORPLS) that is supposed to help facilitate the protection of the public. Although I guess I am assumming too much. It may be that those two were the best choices out of 8 applicants for this public position. At least in the Governors' mind or his staff.

It appears that the resumes of the appointees indicate that they have done all kinds of stuff regarding certain kinds of stuff. I suggest that those of us who are really really concerned with the abilities of those on the Board of Registration that protects the public and regulates our professional licenses, that we should call them up and have coffee. See what they have to say.

In fact, maybe we should have contacted the Governor prior to these appointments and put in our two cents worth.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

I have serious doubts about the effectiveness of a political hack on a professional State Board

I have no such doubts -- people with resumes like the one above know how political systems work and how to make them work effectively to advance their interests. The thing that raises my eyebrows is that BPELSG is about as backwater as you can get in state politics. Absent some means of gaming the $100 per diem, I just don't see enough power in a Board appointment to make it worth a second look to anyone outside the professions represented.

Color me skeptical, but I'm still scratching my head over this one.

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Ya, what's the deal on the $100?

These political hacks don't get up in the morning for that kind of money.

Keith:

Have you ever met any of these Public Members of the Board?

The ones I've worked with are dedicated, hard working people who were on the Board to accomplish good things. They weren't interested in the money. They were interested in a engineering and Surveying.

One, an English teacher all her life, PASSED the National Exam!

Next time you want to make political comments, try another forum, or, at least get some facts, first.

Ian,

After reading the history of the two appointed members, I made my comment and sticking with my opinion.

If you think political hacks are good for the board, say so.

Keith

Keithwill wrote:Ian,

After reading the history of the two appointed members, I made my comment and sticking with my opinion.

If you think political hacks are good for the board, say so.

Keith

So... who would you appoint in their place???

Ian Wilson wrote:Keith:

Have you ever met any of these Public Members of the Board?

I do know Mr. King. He volunteers time for a hiking group I'm a member of. Nice fellow.

That's nice!