Columbia Basin College will soon have a new member on its governing board.

Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Kennewick attorney Sal Mendoza to the college's board of trustees this week. He replaces Sal Beltran, whose term is expiring.

Beltran served for six years as a member, the chairman and vice chairman. Mendoza's appointment is for five years and begins Oct. 1.

Mendoza is a graduate of the University of Washington and the University of California Los Angeles law school.

He has worked as an assistant state attorney general, deputy prosecutor for Franklin County and as a judge pro-tem for superior, juvenile, district and municipal courts.

He also owns a private practice specializing in criminal law, dependency proceedings and personal injury cases.

Mendoza serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.