Former California Lawmaker Gets High-Paying Appointment

Former California Sen. Liz Figueroa of Fremont, who lost a bid for her party’s nomination for lieutenant governor in June, will be paid $114,191 annually as a member of the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, made the appointments to the four-year term.

Perata also appointed former Oakland Assemblywoman Wilma Chan to the California Medical Assistance Commission through 2009. That part-time job pays $50,000 a year plus travel expenses.

Figueroa served in the Senate from 1998-2006 and the Assembly from 1994-98. In her new job, she will help rule on unemployment insurance benefit determinations that have been appealed from the state Employment Development Department.

She joins a board that includes Terri Carbaugh, formerly press secretary to First Lady Maria Shriver, and Ann M. Richardson, once chief deputy legislative secretary to former Gov. Gray Davis.

As senator, Figueroa earned base salaries of about $113,098.

Figueroa replaces Don Novey, former head of the politically powerful California Correctional Peace Officers Association.