Newly elected state Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) has been named chairman of the Assembly budget subcommittee that oversees the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
Gordon's office announced his appointment to head the Budget Subcommittee on Resources and Transportation on Wednesday.
Gordon, who served 12 years as a San Mateo County supervisor, has closely followed the high-speed-rail debate and has called for creation of a new oversight structure for the authority's governing board, with greater transparency and local representation.
Other departments and agencies over which the subcommittee has authority include the Air Resources Board, the Department of Water Conservation Resources, Department of Fish & Game, Caltrans and the California Transportation Authority.
Gordon will also serve on the full Budget Committee, the Budget Subcommittee on Oversight, and the standing committees of Local Governments, Health, and Revenue & Tax Committees.
Gordon was elected in November to represent the 21st Assembly District, including the communities of San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Woodside, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos and the Almaden Valley.
In addition to serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors,Gordon also served as president of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) in 2008-09.
"I am pleased that I will serve on a variety of committees in diverse issue areas, and I will strive to fulfill my pledge to bring better governance to Sacramento and help tackle the state budget problems dominating the state today," Gordon said of his appointments.
