California Gov. Gavin Newsom is under fire after giving one of his longtime political allies a taxpayer-funded board appointment worth nearly $60,000 a year. The man at the center of it all is Jim DeBoo, a former chief of staff and political strategist who is now headed for a seat on the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. That board helps oversee flood control planning, levees, and other water projects in one of the state’s most flood-prone regions.
Critics say DeBoo does not appear to have much direct experience for the job, and they argue the appointment looks more like a reward than a merit-based pick. State Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican, said Newsom is still handing out favors even as he nears the end of his time in office. He called it “cronyism at its best,” which is a fancy way of saying the governor is taking care of his friends with public jobs.
DeBoo has deep ties to Newsom. He worked in the governor’s office during the COVID years and later helped raise money and run political efforts tied to Newsom and the Democratic Party. His firm has also brought in millions in campaign money since 2020, according to the article, which only adds fuel to the idea that loyalty matters more than experience in Sacramento.
The governor’s office did not respond to questions about the appointment. Newsom also appointed Jared Blumenfeld, another longtime ally, to the State Water Resources Control Board on the same day. Blumenfeld has more direct experience, but critics say the pattern is the same: close insiders keep landing in powerful government roles while regular Californians are left wondering who is really being served.
Republicans say these appointments are part of a broader culture of insider politics inside Newsom’s administration. They argue that important boards should protect water, safety, and taxpayers, not reward political loyalists. For many voters, this will sound like the same old story in state government: the connected get ahead, and everybody else gets the bill.
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