Governor announced four appointments on Nov. 6, 2026, the governor’s office said.
The appointments include two members of the State Historical Resources Commission and one member of the San Joaquin River Conservancy Governing Board; the office also named a Special Assistant to the Secretary at the California Housing and Homelessness Agency.
Abnner Olivares of Sacramento was appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary at the California Housing and Homelessness Agency; Olivares has been Special Assistant to the Legal Affairs Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2025 and was an Executive Fellow in the Capital Fellows Program at the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency from 2024 to 2025; the office listed compensation at $115,008 and identified Olivares as a Democrat.
Kacey Hadick of Grass Valley was appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission; Hadick has been Director of Programs and Development at CyArk since 2019 and previously held several archaeology positions, and the office listed compensation at $100 per diem and identified Hadick as a Democrat.
Nathan “Nate” Ballard of Mill Valley was appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission; Ballard is principal attorney at the Law Offices of Nathan Ballard and has a long background in communications and management roles, and the office listed compensation at $100 per diem and identified Ballard as a Democrat.
Charmaine McDarment of Porterville was appointed to the San Joaquin River Conservancy Governing Board; McDarment held multiple roles at the Tule River Tribal Council from 2003 to 2026 and the office listed compensation at $75 per diem and identified McDarment as a Democrat.
None of the positions the governor announced require Senate confirmation, so the appointees can assume their duties without that step; compensation details and biographical information were provided in the governor’s release.
State
Gavin Newsom
Governor · Democrat
Named 3 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Sources & methodology
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