California Governance Shifts as State Boards and Commissions Receive Six New Appointees
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a fresh round of state board and commission appointments, bringing experienced figures from nursing, water management, public health, and emergency medicine into key advisory and regulatory roles across California. The appointments span six distinct oversight bodies, touching areas from regional water infrastructure to public education policy.
Among the newly named officials is Nichole Morgan of Sacramento, stepping onto the Advisory Commission on Special Education. Morgan brings extensive regulatory background to the commission, having served as a Member of the State Water Resources Control Board since 2021. Her extensive water policy career includes roles as Assistant Deputy Director in the Division of Financial Assistance from 2019 to 2021 and Supervising Water Resources Control Engineer from 2018 to 2019. She also held supervising engineering roles at the California Regional Water Quality Control Board for the Central Valley and sits on the Board of Directors of River Charter Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University, Sacramento. The position requires no Senate confirmation and carries no compensation. Morgan is a Democrat.
Mawata Kamara Joins California Board of Registered Nursing
The healthcare sector sees significant additions with appointments to the California Board of Registered Nursing and the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee. Mawata Kamara of Tracy joins the Board of Registered Nursing. Kamara has worked as a Charge Registered Nurse at San Leandro Hospital since 2022 and serves as Executive Director at Holistic Education Advocating Leadership. Her extensive clinical and travel nursing background includes stints at Emanuel Medical Center, Washington Hospital, and Christiana Hospital, alongside roles with various staffing agencies. A member of the California Nurses Association and Chi ETA Phi Sorority Incorporated, Kamara earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Temple University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kamara is a Democrat.
Meanwhile, Candy Stockton-Joreteg of Eureka takes a seat on the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee. Stockton-Joreteg has served as County Health Officer at the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Branch since 2022. Her medical career includes chief medical officer and director roles across several northern California health centers and substance abuse programs. She serves as Co-Chair of RxSafe Humboldt and holds a Doctor of Medicine from Loma Linda University alongside a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pacific Union College. The position requires no Senate confirmation and carries no compensation. Stockton-Joreteg is a Democrat.
Kimberly Freeman and David Toston Take Oversight Roles
Kimberly Freeman of Sonora joins the Emergency Medical Services Commission, bringing extensive medical direction experience from multiple county agencies and rural health clinics. Freeman has served as Emergency Medical Services Director at Mountain Counties EMS Agency since 2023 and has held health officer roles in Tuolumne County.
In education and behavioral health oversight, David Toston has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. He holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne, a Master of Science in School Psychology and Counseling from Azusa Pacific University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Pacific Union College. This position requires no Senate confirmation and carries no compensation. Toston is a Democrat.
Marcia Rayford Joins Respiratory Care Board of California
Rounding out the announcements, Marcia Rayford of Citrus Heights joins the Respiratory Care Board of California. Rayford works as a Public Affairs Specialist in the California State Guard’s Recruiting Command at the California Military Department. This position requires no Senate confirmation and provides a $100 per diem. Rayford is a Democrat, as detailed in the official records from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office.
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