The departure of Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam in 2011, who left to accept a job at The Clorox Company, highlighted an ongoing concern about the influence of the chemical industry at the department.  

The Yolo County resident earned a bachelor of science degree from California State University, Fresno, and a master of business administration from California State University, Stanislaus. She worked for the California Farm Bureau Federation in various capacities from 1981-2001. Warmerdam was general manager of the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District from 2001 to 2002 and served as the director of governmental affairs for the Regional Council of Rural Counties in 2003.

She was briefly manager of state governmental relations for the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. before being appointed director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation in 2004 by Governor Schwarzenegger.

On March 18, 2011, just months after a controversial decision to green-light use of the controversial pesticide methyl iodide, Warmerdam announced that she was leaving government work for a job in the technology and stewardship division at Clorox, a giant chemical company (that does not make pesticides).

Although Warmerdam’s departure was voluntary, it was known that environmental and public health advocates had been pushing for her removal for months. The groups say that she let the chemical company, Arysta LifeScience, influence her when the department approved the use of methyl iodide. Kathryn Gilje, co-director of the Pesticide Action Network of North America, said she wasn’t surprised about Warmerdam’s transition to Clorox. “Unfortunately, we see far too often this revolving door between people from pesticide companies and government regulators.”

Warmerdam Announces Resignation (Official DPR  website)

Schwarzenegger Appoints Director (Western Farm Press)

Head of CA Department of Pesticide Regulation Leaves Post to Work for Chemical Giant (by Bridget Huber, Civil Eats)