Newsom Names Zingale, Others to Key Administration Posts

This week, Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom announced key appointments to the Governor’s Office of Strategic Communications and Public Engagement. Daniel Zingale will lead the office as the senior advisor on strategy and communications. Zingale has served as senior vice president of The California Endowment for the past 10 years, where he has worked on a number of health care enrollment and health equity initiatives. Prior to joining the Endowment, Zingale served as the chief of staff to former First Lady Maria Shriver and senior adviser to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Zingale was tasked with carrying out key health reform efforts as part of the Schwarzenegger Administration, including an individual health coverage mandate and expanded health coverage for uninsured Californians. Zingale also served as cabinet secretary for Governor Gray Davis and the founding director of the Department of Managed Health Care. Newsom will be the third California governor for which Zingale has worked.

Also announced were Nathan Click as chief spokesman and director of public affairs, Priscilla Cheng as senior political advisor, and Maricela Rodriguez as director of civic engagement and strategic partnerships. Click and Cheng served in key roles on the Newsom campaign as spokesperson and senior political adviser, respectively. Rodriguez will be joining the incoming administration from The California Endowment where she has served as the director of strategic communications.