Sacramento, California - Governor Gavin Newsom Friday announced the following appointments:
Robert Burton, 54, of Folsom, has been appointed warden of the Deuel Vocational Institution at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he has served as acting warden since 2018. He served as chief deputy administrator at Mule Creek State Prison from 2014 to 2018 and assistant chief of the Office of Labor Relations at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2012 to 2014, where he was special assistant to the director from 2011 to 2012. Burton served in multiple positions at Mule Creek State Prison from 1994 to 2011, including as correctional counselor II, correctional business manager, lieutenant and sergeant. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $154,308. Burton is a Republican.
Laura Horrocks, 36, of Granite Bay, has been appointed to the California Citizens Compensation Commission. Horrocks has been finance manager at PRIDE Industries since 2018, where she was senior financial analyst from 2015 to 2018. She held several positions at Verizon Wireless from 2006 to 2015, including consultant, senior financial analyst and financial analyst. Horrocks earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Irvine. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Horrocks is registered without party preference.
Nichole Rice, 35, of Auburn, has been appointed to the California Citizens Compensation Commission. Rice has been political and legislative director of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 8 Golden State since 2008. She was an assistant to executive officers at Insightful Corporation from 2005 to 2006 and a legal secretary at the Law Offices of Armando Villapudua from 2002 to 2004. She is secretary treasurer of the North Valley Labor Federation and a member of New Leaders Council Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rice is a Democrat.