3 Named to Head State Agencies

Gov. Gray Davis selected three people to head the state departments that help mentally ill, disabled and low-income Californians.

He announced Thursday that he is retaining Stephen Mayberg, 53, of Carmichael as director of the Department of Mental Health. Mayberg has headed the department since 1993. He formerly directed the Yolo County mental health agency.

The Department of Mental Health operates four mental hospitals and a psychiatric unit at the state prison at Vacaville and oversees local mental health programs.

The governor selected Catherine Campisi, 50, of Sacramento as director of the Department of Rehabilitation. She has coordinated programs for disabled students at the community colleges chancellor’s office since 1998. She held several management jobs in the Rehabilitation Department from 1992 to 1998.

The departments runs state and federal programs aimed at helping people with disabilities obtain training and jobs and live independently.

Timothy Dayonot, 47, of San Mateo was chosen to head the Department of Community Services and Development. He is a government and public affairs manager with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and teaches conflict resolution at UC Berkeley.

The department, part of the Health and Human Services Agency, runs federal and state programs to help low-income residents and communities with such things as weatherization. It also recruits and places mentors with at-risk youths.

Mayberg and Campisi will make $105,883 after a 5% cut requested by the governor. Dayonot will get $95,760, also with the reduction.