Brawley's Ex-Mayor Is New Warden at Donovan

The ex-mayor of Brawley, Daniel Paramo, has been appointed acting warden at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa. A San Diego State University graduate and a former Brawley city councilman, Paramo has been with the state department of corrections since 1991. When he ran unsuccessfully for a seat of the board of the Imperial Irrigation District in February 2004, the Imperial Valley Press attacked him in an editorial. “We’re concerned that Paramo, in taking money from Imperial Group farmers, is in favor of transferring ownership of the Imperial Valley’s water rights to private parties. We’re opposed to that. We also look askance at Paramo having an employee of the San Diego County Water Authority working in the upper echelons of his campaign.” The paper added, “We are concerned about Paramo pledging to keep his job with the state Department of Corrections if he is elected. [Irrigation district] directorships are paid as full-time positions because they are full-time positions.” Paramo succeeds warden George A. Neotti, who is retiring. In a telephone interview this week, Paramo said the people at the I.V. Press “were friends with my opponent, who was the incumbent,” and that he never expected to receive its support in the water-board race. He said that having a political career while holding a full-time executive job was his way of giving back to the community, which he learned from the example of his parents. Paramo added that he will officially become the prison’s assigned warden when Neotti departs next month; a six-month vetting process of his on-the-job performance will determine his permanent status…The second annual International Baja Aerospace Supplier Forum will be held July 20 through 22 at the Tijuana International Airport’s Matrix Maintenance Facility, a giant maintenance hangar that can house three Boeing 747s at once. According to its website, the air show “is the result of a coordinated effort between the Aerospace Companies located in the region, Local, State and Federal Government Agencies, together with Business Organizations, and Academia.” It probably also helps that Matrix Aeronautica is owned by Tijuana’s PRI mayor Carlos Bustamante, who will deliver welcoming remarks.