On January 2, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Sheriff Bill Brown of Lompoc, to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC). On December 31, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Dr. Ralph Nelson, of Visalia, and Tina Wooton, of Santa Barbara to the MHSOAC. Also, on December 31, Governor Schwarzenegger reappointed Patrick Henning Jr., of West Sacramento, Dr. David Pating, of San Francisco, and Eduardo Vega, of San Francisco to the MHSOAC.

The 16-member MHSOAC was formed by the passage of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), in November 2004. The MHSOAC is responsible for overarching oversight and accountability for implementation of the MHSA.

Sheriff Brown has worked as a sheriff and coroner for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office since 2007. Sheriff Brown fills the seat of a county sheriff.

Dr. Nelson currently serves as a board member on the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Nelson fills the seat of a family member.

Tina Wooton has worked as consumer empowerment manager for Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services of Santa Barbara County since 2009. Ms. Wooton fills the seat of an individual with lived experience.

Patrick Henning Jr. has been the legislative advocate for the California Council of Laborers since 2003. Mr. Henning fills the seat of a representative of a labor organization.

Dr. David Pating has been chief of addiction medicine and the medical director of the Chemical Dependency Recovery Program for the San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Medical Center since 2001. Dr. Pating fills the seat of a physician specializing in alcohol and drug treatment.

Eduardo Vega is the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. Mr. Vega fills the seat of an individual with lived experience.

Members of the MHSOAC serve without compensation.