Brown's Aide Appointed to Marin County Supervisor

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Catherine Rice of San Anselmo to fill the seat of Marin County Supervisor Hal Brown, who is resigning for health reasons.

Rice, 51, has been Supervisor Brown's administrative aide since 2004 and was his recommended replacement for the post. She assumes Brown's 2nd District seat on the board Saturday.

“I’m looking forward to working with Katie,” said Board President Susan Adams. “She is a very talented and hard-working person who knows the District and the County so she will hit the ground running. We are excited she’ll be joining the Board.” 

Rice, a Democrat, said she "is excited, flattered and a little humbled" to be appointed, and she intends to run for re-election in June. Her term expires in December 2012.

Rice helped found the Ross Valley Schools Foundation in 1999 and served on its board of directors between 1999 and 2002. She also served on the Ross Valley Community for Schools' board of directors in 1999.

She was a freelance writer between 1984 and 1995 for the Sonoma-Marin Business Journal, Market Trim Tabs and Petaluma Argus-Courier.

Supervisor Brown, who announced his retirement October 7 after undergoing months of cancer treatment, said Rice is well prepared to take over his seat, which officially becomes vacant October 29.

“Katie is sharp as a tack, knows the residents of the district and has tremendous strength and courage. I don’t know anyone who would do a better job than she,” said Brown, who held the seat for almost 30 years.

Her appointment, which pays $97,739, does not need Senate confirmation.

-Bay City News Service

Here is a link to another article on the Marin Independent Journal about the appointment.