California: Governor Newsom announces appointments
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Oct 17, 2025

Governor Newsom announces appointments

SACRAMENTO
– Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Andrew "Dru" Alejandre, of Corning, has been appointed Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage Commission. Alejandre has been Tribal Liaison at Emic Health Services since 2024 and Co-Founder and Vice President of the Tribal Leadership Council since 2024. He was the Chairman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians from 2016 to 2025, and Council Secretary from 2014 to 2016. Alejandre is the Board Chair of Tepa Companies and the Tribal Leadership Council Foundation. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $152,064. Alejandre is a Democrat.

Matthew Notley, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Crisis Communications at the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Notley has been Owner at Notley Communications since 2025. He was Senior Vice President at Edelman from 2014 to 2025.  He was Senior Account Manager at Perry Communications Group from 2013 to 2014. Notley was Vice President at Oglivy Public Relations from 2010 to 2012. He was Assistant Director for Public Affairs at California Department of Water Resources from 2007 to 2010. Notley was a Communications Specialist at Motorola from 2006 to 2007. He was an Account Executive at KNBR 680 AM in 2006. Notley was Senior District Sales Manager at Pyramid Breweries from 2001 to 2006. He was News Editor at Chico News & Review from 1999 to 2000. Notley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Chico. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $177,300. Notley is a Democrat.

Audrey Boochever, of Sacramento, has been appointed Senior Policy Director at the State Board of Education. Boochever has been Lead of Workforce Development and Career Pathways at First in Family since 2023 and a Researcher at California Education Lab at University of California, Davis since 2022. She was a Senior Quantitative Analyst at Aspire Public Schools from 2017 to 202. Boochever was a High School Math Teacher at Shelby County Schools from 2013 to 2016. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Science degree in Global Development from Cornell University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $152,064. Boochever is a Democrat.

Kathryn Jue, of Wilton, has been appointed Workforce Diversity Specialist at the California Department of Developmental Services. Jue has been a Recruitment Manager in the Recruitment and Exams Section at the Department of General Services since 2025. She was an Outreach and Recruitment Analyst in the Talent Acquisitions and Executive Recruitment Section at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration from 2024 to 2025.  Jue was an Associate Governmental Program Analyst in the Office of Employee Wellness at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2020 to 2024. She held several roles at the Correctional Training Center – Peace Officer Selection and Employee Development from 2016 to 2020, including Office Technician in the Captain's Office, Office Technician in the Examinations Unit, and Office Technician for the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training. Jue was Assistant Property Manager and Head Leasing Agent at Orloff Property Management from 2012 to 2015. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $101,736. Jue is a Democrat.

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Richard "Rick" Simpson, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Simpson served as Chief of Staff for State Senator Robert Hertzberg in 2019. He was Deputy Chief of Staff and Education Advisor for eight California State Assembly Speakers from 1999 to 2016. Simson was an Elected Member of the Sacramento County School Board from 1990 to 2002. He was Legislative Secretary in the Office of Governor Gray Davis in 1999. Simpson was a Legislative Advocate for the California Teachers Association from 1996 to 1998. He was Staff Director for the California State Assembly Education Committee from 1995 to 1996. Simpson was an Educational Advisor to California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown from 1991 to 1994. He was a Senior Consultant for the California State Assembly Education Committee from 1984 to 1990. Simpson was an Education Consultant at the California State Senate Office of Research from 1978 to 1984. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Simpson is a Democrat.

Rafael Sweet, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, where he has served since 2022. Sweet has been a Trial Attorney with his own practice since 2020. He was a Trial Attorney at The Dominguez Firm from 2019 to 2020. He was a Senior Trial Attorney at the Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn from 2016 to 2019. Sweet was a Senior Trial Attorney at Cellino & Barnes in 2016. He was Founder and Principal Attorney at Contreras Sweet Law from 2013 to 2016. Sweet was an Attorney at Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC from 2012 to 2013. He is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. Sweet earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sweet is registered without party preference.

Janette Cruz, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, where she has served since 2021. Cruz has been Senior Enterprise Performance Planning Coordinator at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District since 2017, where she was Enterprise Performance Planning Coordinator from 2015 to 2017. She held several positions at the California Public Employees' Retirement System from 2006 to 2015, including Staff Services Manager, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Benefits Program Specialist, and Staff Services Analyst. Cruz earned a Master of Business Administration degree and Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Cruz is registered without party preference.

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