San Diego's First 5 Commission has named long-time county employee Barbara Jimenez as its new executive director.
The First 5 commission doles out tens of millions of dollars a year in tobacco tax money for early childhood health and education. It's new executive director has, most recently, been program director for the county's Office of Violence Prevention and Community Action Partnership. San Diego's First 5 Commission has been in a state of turmoil. This year nine members of the commission's advisory panel quit after media reports showed the agencies that employed them were getting millions of dollars in First 5 grants. Jimenez says First 5 has taken steps to try to fix the problem.
"Working with the First 5 association to establish consistent conflict of interest policies. So I'll continue to carry that on and insure that we continue on that road," she said.
Jimenez replaces former executive director Laura Spiegel, who resigned in March.
