A position on the California Integrated Waste Management Board has long been one of the most coveted political appointments in the state. The pay, $117,818, is fabulous, the work not overly taxing and the public profile rather low.

As he left office in early 1991, former Gov. George Deukmejian rewarded his chief of staff, Michael Frost, and finance director, Jesse Huff, to positions on the board to assure their financial security after a new administration took over. Former Gov. Gray Davis appointed Cheryl Peace, the wife of former state Sen. Steve Peace, to the board about the same time Steve Peace agreed to come on board as Davis' director of finance.

Apparently, Arnold Schwarzenegger never got the memo that the Integrated Waste Management Board was a place to dole out patronage.

Schwarzenegger announced an appointment to the board today and instead of naming a politically connected big shot, he went with someone who's qualifications appear to be outstanding. Quoting from then Schwarzenegger press release:

Gary Petersen, 57, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the Integrated Waste Management Board. He has served as the president of Environmental Problem Solving Enterprises since 1997 and was the chairman of BioConverter from 2001 to 2004 and remains managing partner of the firm. Petersen was previously vice president and director of environmental affairs for Recycle America from 1988 to 1997 and founder and president of Ecolo-Haul recycling from 1972 to 1988. He is a member of the task force for the Greening of the White House, is chairman of the board of Green Seal, is the co-founder of the California Resource Recovery Association and is a founding member of the National Recycling Coalition.

Most remarkable of all is Peterson's political affiliation. Likely a first for the Integrated Waste Management Board, Peterson's voter registration is decline-to-state.