UC Davis Grad Named to California Public Utilities Commission

DAVIS, CA -- Gov. Jerry Brown has announced the appointments of two senior advisors from his administration to six-year terms on the California Public Utilities Commission, including one who received her Master's degree from the University of California at Davis.

The appointees are UC Davis graduate Martha Guzman Aceves, 39, of Sacramento, who's currently a deputy legislative affairs secretary to Brown, and Clifford Rechtschaffen, 59, of Oakland, a senior advisor on climate, energy and environmental matters.

If Aceves and Rechtschaffen are confirmed to the five-member Commission by the state Senate, each would earn $142,095 per year.

They would replace Commissioners Michael Florio and Catherine Sandoval, who were appointed by Brown in 2011 and whose terms expire on Jan. 1.

As deputy legal affairs secretary since 2011, Aceves focused on natural resources, environmental protection, energy and food and agriculture, Brown's office said.

Aceves, who holds a master of science degree in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California at Davis, was previously an advocate for the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and a legislative coordinator for United Farm Workers.

Rechtschaffen, an advisor to Brown since 2011, was a special assistant California attorney general from 2007 to 2010 and a deputy attorney general from 1985 to 1993. He taught environmental law at Golden Gate University from 1993 to 2007. He graduated from Yale Law School.

The San Francisco-based CPUC regulates privately owned California utilities, including electric power, natural gas, water, telecommunications, railroad and transportation companies.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock