Newport man appointed to state architects committee

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Thursday that Newport Beach resident Andy Bowden has been appointed to the state Landscape Architects Technical Committee, a group designed to advocate for consumers and enforce landscape architecture laws.

Bowden, 54, is one of the principals of Land Concern, a landscape architectural design firm headquartered in Santa Ana. He also serves as president of the Southern California chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

He is scheduled to be sworn in to the Technical Committee within the next 30 days for a four-year term.

Bowden said he applied for the position in April and waited months to hear back from the governor’s office.

When the call finally came, he had nearly given up on his chances.

“I’m eager to try and do my best for the people of California,” he said.

— Michael Miller