State Appointments Announced for Various California Boards
State health oversight boards, emergency medical panels, and educational commissions are shifting their administrative leadership following a series of state appointments announced on October 27, 2026.
- Governor Gavin Newsom filled board and commission seats spanning registered nursing oversight, tobacco education, and emergency medical services.
- New appointees bring clinical backgrounds from hospital intensive care units, county public health offices, and emergency departments.
- Several positions carry no compensation, while others provide a per diem rate for participating professionals.
Board of Registered Nursing Additions
Mawata Kamara, of Tracy, has joined the California Board of Registered Nursing, according to gov.ca.gov. Kamara has served as a charge registered nurse at San Leandro Hospital since 2022 and maintains an executive director role at Holistic Education Advocating Leadership, which she has held since 2012. Her clinical background includes working in the intensive care unit at Emanuel Medical Center from 2020 to 2022, alongside roles in emergency and medical-surgical units at Washington Hospital from 2023 to 2025. She also practiced as a registered nurse at Christiana Hospital and John Hopkins Hospital. Her appointment does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is set at $100 per diem.
Candy Stockton-Joreteg Joins Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee
Candy Stockton-Joreteg, of Eureka, has been appointed to the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee, as reported by gov.ca.gov. Since 2022, Stockton-Joreteg has held the position of county health officer within the Public Health Branch of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to her county role, she served as chief medical officer at the Humbolt Independent Practice Association from 2018 to 2022 and medical director at Groups: Recover Together from 2018 to 2019. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University. This position requires no Senate confirmation and offers no compensation.
Emergency Medical Services Commission Leadership
Kimberly Freeman, of Sonora, joins the Emergency Medical Services Commission. Freeman has worked as the emergency medical services director at the Mountain Counties EMS Agency since 2023 and has held multiple positions in Tuolumne County since 2015, including Health Officer and Emergency Services Medical Director. Her extensive background includes serving as emergency medical services director at Bi-County Ambulance since 2008 and practicing as an emergency physician at Adventist Health Sonora Hospital. The appointment carries no compensation and requires no Senate confirmation.
Additional State Commission Placements
Other appointments announced on October 27 include Nichole Morgan to the Advisory Commission on Special Education, David Toston to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and Marcia Rayford to the Respiratory Care Board of California. Morgan brings water resources and engineering board experience to her education oversight role. Toston steps into behavioural health oversight following his tenure as Director of Special Education and School Psychologist at Tehachapi Unified School District from 2002 to 2005. Since 2025, Rayford has taken up her seat on the respiratory care board, following her previous employment as a public affairs specialist in the Recruiting Command of the California State Guard at the California Military Department.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.