(December 20, 2005) -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed ELB realtor and community activist Helen Najar to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services.
The Commission oversees the CA Emergency Services Authority, whose website says its mission is to "ensure quality patient care by administering an effective statewide system of coordinated emergency medical care, injury prevention, and disaster medical response."
Ms. Najar was actively involved in efforts to reopen Community Hospital of LB...and was also part of grassroots efforts that persuaded city officials to downsize and include key mitigation measures in the KMart store developed on the former Los Altos Drive-In site on Spring St. at Bellflower Blvd.
"One of the great things about living in our country is that ordinary people can be heard in the halls of government," Ms. Najar told LBReport.com. "You don't have to be privileged or wealthy. In addition to neighborhood activism, I am familiar with medical services, including my work in helping in the reopening of Community Hospital. I'm honored to be the public appointee on the Commission where I'll be working alongside professional firefighters, paramedics and other first responders, the people who actually do the hard emergency services work."
In a written release, the Governor's office noted that Ms. Najar currently serves as a member of Community Hospital's governing Board of Directors and "also serves on the Board of Directors of Operation Jump Start in Long Beach and as an appointed commissioner for the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services."
The position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Ms. Najar is a registered Republican.