By Daily Press staff
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed a Santa Monica resident to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy on Friday.
Jim Berkus, 59, will serve on the conservancy’s board. He is currently the chairman of the United Talent Agency. He formed Leading Artists Agency in 1981 and served as president for 10 years. In 1991, Berkus merged Leading Artists with the Bauer Benedek Agency to form United Talent Agency where he continues to serve. The position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Berkus is a Democrat.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy was established by the California State Legislature in 1980. Since that time, it has helped to preserve more than 55,000 acres of parkland in both wilderness and urban settings, and has improved more than 114 public recreational facilities throughout Southern California.
Through direct action, alliances, partnerships, and joint powers authorities, the conservancy’s mission is to strategically buy back, preserve, protect, restore, and enhance pieces of Southern California to form an interlinking system of urban, rural and river parks, open space, trails, and wildlife habitats that are easily accessible to the general public.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 12, 2005. Read the original PDF.