June 20, 1999

Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Attention: Dario Frommer, Appointments Secretary

Re: Director/Deputy Director of the Department of Developmental Services

Dear Governor Davis:

This is to support the application of Phillip Campbell and Dr. Mary Cerreto for the positions of Director and Deputy Director of the Department of Developmental Services.

As the father of school age children, I appreciate that you have chosen improving public education as your Administration's No. 1 priority during your first term in office. However, I am also the father of a young man who has a developmental disability. Advocating for supports and services that will enable him and others like him to live a safe and happy life is a lifelong priority for my family.

I am concerned that the Department of Developmental Services has been under an interim directorship for almost two years. With an annual budget of more than $2 billion and providing services and supports for 150,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities through developmental centers and nonprofit regional centers, I feel it is vital that the department have visionary and effective leadership.

California's developmental disability community is extremely complex and diverse, ranging from people with mild impairments who live independently to people with severe physical and cognitive needs who require 24 hour care. With this wide diversity, we must have someone at the helm who can ensure needed programs are in place and that there are no gaps in services.

I am aware of several highly qualified and dedicated applicants for the Director position. However, one application stands above the rest. Mr. Campbell and Dr. Cerreto have been Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation and have years of experience working together as a team. They successfully steered their Department through many of the issues now confronting California's developmental disability service system. Issues such as the development of state owned and operated community facilities, rate setting mythology, federal certifications of developmental centers, and maximizing access to federal dollars, such as HCBS Medicaid waivers. This is a rare opportunity to have someone of the caliber of Mr. Campbell and Dr. Cerreto available to address our issues. I think we should take it.

I appreciate your consideration of my views on the appointment of Mr. Campbell and Dr. Cerreto to the Department of Developmental Services..

Sincerely,

Bill Coffelt, President