Governor Gray Davis

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Davis:

Re: Director of the Department of Developmental Services

As the father of a young woman with developmental disabilities, I am asking you to favorably consider the application you have recently received from Philip Campbell and Mary Cerreto for the positions of Director and Deputy Director of the Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Over the next few years I believe that our developmental disabilities system here in California will come under intense pressure. This will be the result from, among other things, the recent Olmstead case decision of the supreme court, inadequate funding to attract providers of high quality community-based services, and the lack of visionary leadership from the Department of Developmental Services which has had only interim directors for almost two years.

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Campbell several times while I was working in Massachusetts about 15 years ago. He is a visionary leader who has demonstrated his commitment to supporting both people with developmental disabilities and their families for many years.

While I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mary Cerreto in person, I have on several occasions asked her detailed questions with respect to issues confronting both my daughter and others with developmental disabilities. She has been extremely helpful to me by responding to my questions with detailed information. Her responsiveness and the quality of the material she has sent to me has convinced me that she has much to contribute to the Department of Developmental Services.

Please reach outside our current system - the "old boy/old girl network" - and appoint Mr. Campbell and Dr. Cerreto as Director and Deputy Director of the Department of Developmental Disabilities. Their combination of knowledge, experience and commitment is unbeatable.

Sincerely,

David B. Denniston