Newsom keeps politically connected picks in medical watchdog role past deadline

Gov. Gavin Newsom used his emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic to extend the confirmation deadlines for three politically connected appointees to the state board that licenses and regulates doctors, allowing them to continue serving on the board without legislative approval.

In delaying their confirmations beyond the one-year limit set by California law, the governor ignored objections from a watchdog group that two of the appointees were inappropriate choices as regulators because they formerly led the California Medical Association, the state’s largest lobbying group for doctors.

The appointees are Asif Mahmood, a Los Angeles County doctor who shared campaign consultants with Newsom when they both ran for statewide office in 2018, and Richard Thorp and Dev GnanaDev, past presidents of the California Medical Association. The organization has longstanding ties to the governor, who dined with its chief executive and top lobbyist at the French Laundry in November.

Newsom appointed or reappointed the three members to the Medical Board of California in June and July of 2019. Ordinarily, they would have to have been confirmed by the state Senate by last summer to retain the positions.

But at the end of August, as the legislative session drew to a close without any of them receiving a hearing, Newsom’s issued an executive order moving the confirmation deadline to April 1, 2021. This could ultimately allow Mahmood, Thorp and GnanaDev to serve on the board for nearly two years after their appointments without legislative consideration. The 15 members of the medical board serve four-year terms and receive $100 per day for attending meetings. Read more >>>