Gov. Brown Appoints Los Gatos Lawyer to Fair Political Practices Commission

Gov. Jerry Brown announced this morning a series of appointments to various state boards, including the selection of Los Gatos lawyer Ann Ravel as the new chairwoman of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

In a news release posted on Brown's home page, the governor announced Ravel, 61, would serve as the head of the agency charged with enforcing political campaign, lobbying and conflict-of-interest laws. The position does not require Senate confirmation. Her compensation will be $132,179, according to the release.

Ravel served as an attorney for Santa Clara County from 1998-2009. 

Since 2009, she has served as deputy assistant district attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division Torts Branch and Office of Consumer Litigation in Washington, D.C.

Ravel served in the Santa Clara County counsel’s office from 1976-98. As county counsel, she provided advice to elected officials on the Political Reform Act, and she served on the statewide steering committee for tobacco litigation, according to the release.

Ravel has served on the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, the Judicial Council of California, the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, as well as the Hispanic National Bar Association.