Lee Ann Eager, a strong advocate for high-speed rail and president/CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corp. since 2009, was appointed to the California Transportation Commission by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday.

The 13-member commission is responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highways, passenger rail, transit, and active transportation improvements in the state.

The commission also advises and assists the secretary of the California State Transportation Agency and the Legislature in making and evaluating state policies and plans for transportation programs.

Eager Has Strong Resume

Eager, 64, brings a wealth of private- and public-sector experience to the position. She was an attorney at Lang, Richert, and Patch in Fresno from 2005 to 2009. Eager also was the executive director at Rape Counseling Service of Fresno from 1988 to 2000.

She is a board member of the California Workforce Development Board, California Partnership for San Joaquin Valley, and the California International Trade and Investment Council.

Eager earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law.

Rocklin’s Davis Appointed to Commission

Newsom also appointed Jon Rocco Davis, 61, of Rocklin, to the transportation commission on Friday.

Davis has been vice president and regional manager of Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) since 2001. He is chairman of the LiUNA Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition, National Alliance for Fair Contracting, Laborers-Employers Cooperation, Education Trust Southwest, and International Accreditation Service.

Positions Require Senate Confirmation

Eager and Davis are Democrats. Their appointments require Senate confirmation. The compensation is $100 per diem