Photo Courtesy of Humboldt State University

Governor Jerry Brown appointed California Legislative Secretary Gareth Elliott as the newest member of the UC Board of Regents last Friday.

The appointment, for which Elliott will serve a 12-year term in accordance with California state law, brings the Board of Regents to its full capacity at 26 voting members. According to the Office of the Governor, Elliot is a Democrat from West Sacramento and has an extensive background in legislative affairs. Between 1996 and 2004, Elliott was both a legislative aide and a legislative director for California State Senator for Alameda, Don Perata.

Elliott then worked as policy director and Deputy Chief of Staff for Perata when the Senator served as president pro tempore of California State Senate from 2004 to 2008. Between 2008 and 2011, Elliott worked with current California Secretary of State Alex Padilla when Padilla served as a State Senator for San Bernardino County. In 2011, he was appointed to the position of Legislative Affairs Secretary in the Office of the Governor, where he served under Brown until his appointment to the Board.

In a statement released on Friday, UC Regents Chairman Bruce D. Varner said he is eager to work alongside Elliott.

“I look forward to working with him at this month’s meeting and on matters that will shape the future of the University of California for years to come,” Varner said.

UC President Janet Napolitano stated she is determined to maintain the prominence of the UC system with the help of Elliott.

“I relish the opportunity to work together to help ensure that UC remains among the world’s best public university systems,” Napolitano said in a statement Friday.

Elliott’s appointment is Brown’s third appointment to the Board of Regents. This past November, Brown appointed former Speaker of California State Assembly John A. Pérez to the Board along with Eloy Ortiz Oakley, superintendent of Long Beach City College.

An appointment to the Board of Regents requires approval from the California State Senate, and both Elliott’s and Pérez’s appointments still require the Senate’s approval.

The first UC Regents meeting of the year will be later this month on Jan 21st and 22nd, and will be Elliott’s first meeting as a UC Regents Board member.