In the midst of a $40 billion budget deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed former Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra to a newly created $128,124-a-year job and named former Republican Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian to a board slot with a similar salary, his office announced Tuesday.
The appointments were the fourth and fifth six-figure jobs that Schwarzenegger has given to legislators who departed office last year. The Assembly and Senate appointed three other former lawmakers to positions with similar pay.
The board appointments have drawn fire because they pay high salaries for less than full-time work. One critic said creating Parra's new position as director of the Governor's Regional Development Initiatives is bad timing, as the state may run out of cash soon and Schwarzenegger has ordered state workers to take unpaid furloughs starting Feb. 6.
"If it's a full-time position unlike those phony boards, I'd feel better about it, but on the other hand, why is a new position being created today?" said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. "This, plus the appointments to those boards, sends the wrong message that the governor is not taking his rhetoric seriously."
Parra's job will be to coordinate economic development in the Central Valley in economically underserved regions, said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Rachel Cameron.
"The only thing I can say is I'm honored the governor would appoint me to this position, and I look forward to assisting in this economic development initiative," Parra said.
Asked whether she knew more specifically what her job entails, she said, "No, not at this time. ... I hope to talk to folks tomorrow."
The Hanford Democrat endured controversy in her final year. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass kicked her out of her Capitol office when she withheld her vote for the budget to demand a water bond. Parra later endorsed GOP Assemblyman Danny Gilmore in his successful effort to win her open seat.
Schwarzenegger appointed Aghazarian to the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board, which pays $128,109 a year. He named ex-Assembly members Bonnie Garcia and George Plescia on New Year's Eve to $128,109-a-year posts on the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. And he gave former Sen. Carole Migden a $132,178 job on the Integrated Waste Management Board in December.
The governor called for $17 billion in spending cuts in his latest budget and pledged to save 10 percent in his own administration's salary.
Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.
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