Features

Governor names Gap founder, lobbyist to state school board

The Associated Press
Friday March 16, 2001

Gov. Gray Davis named the founder of the Gap clothing chain and a business and education lobbyist to the state Board of Education. 

The appointments of Donald Fisher, 72, of San Francisco and Suzanne Tacheny, 36, of Sacramento were announced Thursday.  

They replace two appointees of former Gov. Pete Wilson, Marian Bergeson of Newport Beach and Kathryn Dronenburg of El Cajon, whose terms expired in January. 

Fisher is founder and chairman of Gap Inc., which he and his wife started in 1969. 

Tacheny is executive director of California Business for Education Excellence, a lobbying group financed by businesses to push for improvements in public schools. 

The 11-member state Board of Education sets policy for public schools in areas such as textbook purchases, statewide tests and charter schools. 

Davis announced several other appointments Thursday to state boards. 

He selected Gerald O’Hara, 64, of Davis for the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, which handles appeals from employers of citations for workplace safety and health hazards. 

Named to the State Mining and Geology Board were Allen Jones, 51, of San Diego, Brian Baca, 46, of Solvang, Robert Hablitzel, 50, of El Dorado Hills, Maureen Rose, 36, of Oakland, Robert Tepel, 63, of San Jose and Donna Thompson, 47, of Bakersfield.  

The board deals with mineral resources, reclamation of mined land and geologic and seismic information. 

New members of the Exposition and State Fair Board are Gilbert Albiani, 63, of Elk Grove, Sonney Chong, 53, of Sacramento, Rex Hime, 53, of Loomis, John Growney, 53, of Red Bluff and Edward Phillips, 58, of Sacramento. The board oversees the state fair and manages the fairgrounds. 

Board members do not receive a salary. The appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.