San Francisco Chronicle
By Carolyn Said, Lauren Hernández
California’s troubled Employment Development Department is getting its third leader in 13 months.
Nancy Farias, 49, currently the agency’s chief deputy director of external affairs, legislation and policy, was promoted Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom to become department director. She will be sworn in Tuesday.
Rita Saenz, 72, a government veteran who came out of retirement to become director in late 2020, is stepping down and will resume a role as a commissioner at the California Commission on Aging. Newsom had appointed Saenz to replace Sharon Hilliard, the previous EDD director, who abruptly retired last year after 37 years at EDD and one year as its head.