Meet the Board

Caren Daniels Lagomarsino, President

Caren Daniels Lagomarsino spent her 35-year professional life in executive positions with the California Secretary of State’s Office, including as Communications Director, Chief of the Political Reform Division, and Chief of Elections, retiring in 2007.

She now serves as President of The Friends of California Archives and President of the Sacramento Suburban Kiwanis Club, enabling her to combine passions for helping children, making history relevant and exciting, and the importance of education.

Chuck Wilson, Vice President

Chuck Wilson has spent nearly 20 years as an archivist with the California State Archives and nearly as much time with the University of California at the Los Angeles and Riverside campuses.

He has served as an archival consultant for the city of Norco and as chair of the Museum of Riverside Board.

Terry Myrrdin, Secretary

Terry Myrrdin spent 25 years in public service before she retired from the Secretary of State’s office in 2012 as Chief, Facilities Oversight. That position included being the liaison between the Secretary of State and the State Archives and the California Museum.

Her previous positions included Special Assistant to the Legislative Affairs Secretary for Governor Gray Davis and positions with the California State Senate.

Susie Swatt, Treasurer

Susie Swatt spent nearly 40 years as a key staff member in the California legislature and as a special assistant for the Fair Political Practices Commission. At the Commission, she researched and authored a campaign finance study that won a national ProPublica Prize for “investigative work in the public interest.” For many years, she also served as a member of the National Advisory Council for the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley.

Susie has served on the board of The Friends of California Archives since 2016.

Greg Lucas, California State Librarian

Greg Lucas was appointed California’s 25th State Librarian by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014 and continues in that position under Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to his appointment, Greg was the Capitol Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Chronicle where he covered politics and policy at the State Capitol for nearly 20 years.

He holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from California State University San Jose, a Master’s in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California, and a degree in communications from Stanford University.

Lynn Downey

Lynn Downey founded the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives in San Francisco and served as the company Historian for 25 years.

She now works as a consulting archivist and historian. Her California clients include the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Beaulieu Vineyard, Sonoma State University, and the Tomales Regional History Center. She is the co-chair of Advocates for the Sonoma County Archives, and serves on the board of the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin County Civic Center Conservancy.

Lynn is also an historian and novelist. Her most recent work of nonfiction is American Dude Ranch: A Touch of the Cowboy and the Thrill of the West. Her latest novel, Dude or Die, came out in 2023, the sequel to the award-winning debut work, Dudes Rush In.

Jim Hofer

James ‘Jim’ Hofer is a retired archivist and records manager who has worked in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. He managed and provided access to rare and unique materials, as well as fulfilling public and agency requests for information regarding historical and contemporary records.

His 35-year career included working for the Ontario City Library, the Southwest Museum, the Pasadena Public Library, the San Bernardino County Library, the University of Redlands, and the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder.

Rebecca LaVally, PHD

Rebecca ‘Becky’ LaVally, Ph.D., taught for 14 years as an adjunct professor in communication studies at Sacramento State University, and was the editor for the California Senate Office of Research for 14 years.

A former Sacramento bureau chief for Gannett News Service and for United Press International, she worked nearly 20 years as a news reporter, primarily covering the California Capitol and state government.

Steve Swatt

Steve Swatt is a political analyst who enjoyed a 23-year career in print and broadcast journalism, primarily covering state politics, government and public policy.

After his career in journalism, Steve became a partner in a leading statewide public affairs firm, taught political communication at California State University, Sacramento, and hosted Capitol-based public policy interview programs for Comcast and Time Warner.

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