Members

Eric R. Banks was reappointed to the Board as Chairperson in January of 2022. In January of 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom designated Banks as Chairperson of the Board. Eric R. Banks was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in 2013 and reappointed in 2015 and 2017. Before his appointment, he was a partner at Ten Page Memo, LLC, providing organizational consulting services. From 2001 to 2013, he worked for Service Employees International Union, Local 221, representing public employees in San Diego and Imperial Counties. There, he was the first openly gay person to be elected President. He also served as Advisor to the President and Director of Government and Community Relations. Before moving to California, he was dedicated to advancing education, service delivery, and public policy for people living with HIV/AIDS. He served as Policy Associate for State Government Affairs at the New York AIDS Coalition in Albany, NY, from 2000 to 2001 and worked for the Southern Tier AIDS Program in Upstate New York from 1993 to 2000 as Case Manager, Assistant Director of Client Services, and Director of Client Services. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University in 1993.

Mr. Banks’ term expires December 2026.

Arthur A. Krantz was first appointed to the Board by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2018, and Governor Gavin Newsom reappointed him in January 2021 for a five-year term. For more than 20 years prior to his service on the Board, Krantz represented unions, employees, and nonprofits in litigation, arbitration, and administrative cases, and he worked on law reform, organizing, negotiation, and strategic campaigns to effect social change. Krantz did this work as an associate and partner at Leonard Carder, LLP. Prior to that, Krantz spent one year clerking for the Honorable Ellen Bree Burns at the United States District Court, District of Connecticut.

Krantz serves as co-editor-in-chief of California Public Sector Labor Relations. He frequently contributes to other publications and presents at conferences. Krantz has served as a pro bono asylum attorney, a lecturer and practitioner-advisor at UC Berkeley School of Law, and an Executive Committee Member of the California Lawyers Association Labor & Employment Law Section. He received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from NYU School of Law, where he was a Root Tilden Public Interest Scholar. During college, Krantz’s work in a dining hall led him to serve as a shop steward and contract negotiating team member for UNITE HERE Local 35.

Mr. Krantz’s term expires December 2030.

Lou Paulson was first appointed to the Board by Governor Gavin Newsom on February 6, 2019 and was reappointed to a second term by Governor Newsom on January 12, 2024. Prior to his appointment Lou Paulson served as the President of the California Professional Firefighters and as Vice President of the California Labor Federation. He also had a 34 year career in the Fire Service, 26 of those with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

Paulson has participated on many Local and National Boards and Commissions including the UC Berkeley Labor Center Advisory Board and the National Fire Protection Board of Directors. Paulson has lectured and taught nationally and internationally on labor relations and leadership. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from San Francisco State University.

Mr. Paulson’s term expires December 2028.

Mark Krausse was reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in December of 2024. Governor Newsom first appointed Krausse in June of 2024 to fill the remaining six months of a term. Prior to joining the Board, he was Director of State Agency Relations for Pacific Gas and Electric since 2007. He was Executive Director of the Fair Political Practices Commission from 2000 to 2007. Krausse was Director of Government Relations for the Doctors Company from 1996 to 1997. He also held various positions in the California Legislature. He was Senior Consultant in the California State Senate from 1994 to 1996. Krausse was Senior Consultant in the California State Assembly from 1991 to 1994. He got his start as an Associate Consultant in the California State Senate from 1988 to 1990.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento. His Juris Doctor degree is from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Board Member Krausse’s term expires December 2029.

Eraina Ortega was appointed to the Board by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025.  Ms. Ortega was previously the Director of the California Department of Human Resources from 2019 to 2025 where she represented the State employer in all matters concerning human resources and employer-employee relations. Eraina has more than 26 years’ experience working in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches, as well as representing counties.

She previously served as the first Inspector General at the California Department of Transportation, Chief Deputy Director of Policy at the California Department of Finance, Manager at the Judicial Council, and Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Ms. Ortega earned a Master of Public Policy Degree from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.

Ms. Ortega’s term expires December 2027.