Governor Names 4 to College Boards

Gov. Pete Wilson on Monday appointed four Republicans to the governing boards of the California Community College system and California State University--among them, a San Francisco businesswoman Wilson tried unsuccessfully to appoint once before.

Wilson named Rosemary E. Thakar, a furniture store owner and generous Wilson contributor, to the community college board. Just two years ago, the state Senate refused to confirm her appointment to the Cal State board on the grounds that she supported pay hikes and fee increases.

At the time, Thakar accused the Senate of abusing its power by retaliating against her because she had backed her son, attorney Todd Thakar, in his unsuccessful 1992 primary challenge against conservative state Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange).

Rosemary Thakar’s new appointment to an unpaid board position will also be subject to Senate confirmation, as will the three other appointments. But the community college board requires a majority vote to confirm, while the Cal State board requires a two-thirds vote.

“She is an outstanding candidate,” Wilson spokesman Sean Walsh said of Thakar. “Her name has been presented to legislators and a case made that she will be a strong member of the community college board. We are confident that her confirmation will be successful.”

On Monday, Wilson also appointed two lawyers to the community college board: Thomas F. Kranz, the president of a Los Angeles corporate and communications consulting firm, and Roger M. Schrimp of Oakdale, who owns a 9,000-acre cattle ranch in Merced County.

Wilson named Laurence K. Gould, a Pasadena lawyer with the firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, to the Cal State board.