K–12 | Daily Report

Thomas Hawk/FlickrGov. Jerry Brown

The governor's office has been working with the American Institute of Architects to help find a new leader for the embattled state office responsible for the seismic safety of school buildings.

Gov. Jerry Brown has taken a special interest in the position of state architect in light of recent investigations about seismic safety, and he is considering at least four candidates for the job, according to online posts by the American Institute of Architects' California Council.

The state auditor is reviewing the Division of the State Architect after a California Watch series found its regulators had routinely failed to enforce California’s landmark earthquake safety law for public schools, allowing children and teachers to occupy buildings with structural flaws and potential safety hazards reported during construction.

The architects group historically has been close to the state architect's office and played a central role in identifying candidates for the job. The organization was especially critical of how the Schwarzenegger administration used the office, accusing the former governor of knowingly hampering regulators with needless furloughs and hiring restrictions.

According to the architects group's August message, Brown is slated to interview each candidate himself and wants the next chief regulator of school construction standards to reflect diversity and be a visionary:

During conversations with the Governor’s Appointment’s Unit, the AIACC was given the following as criteria for its search efforts:

• The Governor wants ethnic, gender, and geographic (north and south state representation) diversity
• Candidates must be a visionary on energy and sustainability issues, and a leader. They must possess an understanding of DSA’s (Division of the State Architect's) purpose, and be politically astute.

The Governor has expressed a personal interest in the position and as such will conduct the interviews personally. Thus, the timeline for this appointment is dependent upon the Governor’s schedule and priorities. We will keep the membership informed on any developments that arise regarding this important appointment.

The governor's office was unavailable for comment. But Kurt Cooknick, director of regulation and practice for the architects group, confirmed to California Watch that the task force had completed its work. Cooknick said his group was not told when Brown would make his decision, however, and the candidates' identities were being withheld.

"The AIACC has advanced its recommendations," Cooknick said. "However, at this time, the identity of the candidates is confidential, as they are employed and do not wish to have it made known to their employers that they are exploring the position."

Since August 2010, the state architect position has been filled on a temporary basis by Howard "Chip" Smith. Smith, who declined to seek the job, took the post after the resignation of then-State Architect David Thorman. Smith has continued in the job for more than a year.