Governor Newsom announces appointments 11.6.26

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Abnner Olivares, of Sacramento, has been 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. He was an Executive Fellow in the Capital Fellows Program at the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency from 2024 to 2025. Olivares earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Affairs from Yale University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $115,008. Olivares is a Democrat.

Kacey Hadick, of Grass Valley, has been appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission. Hadick has been Director of Programs and Development at CyArk since 2019, where he was Heritage Program Manager from 2016 to 2019. He was an Archaeologist at Albion Environmental, Inc. from 2015 to 2016. Hadick was a Staff Archaeologist and Crew Chief at Far Western Anthropological Research Group from 2012 to 2014. He was a Field Archaeologist at ASM Affiliates, Inc. from 2011 to 2012. Hadick was Laboratory Manager at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo from 2011 to 2012. He is member of the European Association of Archaeologists and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Hadick earned a Master of Science degree in World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development from the University of Turin, a Master of International Service degree in International Development from American University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology and Geology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hadick is a Democrat.

Nathan “Nate” Ballard, of Mill Valley, has been appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission. Ballard has been Principal Attorney at Law Offices of Nathan Ballard since 2021. He has been Chief Executive Officer at The Crisis Team since 2021. Ballard was Chief Executive Officer at The Press Shop Inc. from 2011 to 2021. He was Managing Director at Burson-Marsteller from 2010 to 2011. Ballard was Communications Director at the Office of Mayor Gavin Newsom from 2007 to 2010. He was Communications Director at Jackie Speir for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. Ballard was Chief Executive Officer at Earned Media LLC from 2004 to 2007. He was California Communications Director at the Democratic National Committee in 2004. Ballard was California Press Secretary at John Kerry for President in 2004. He was Missouri Communications Director at Wes Clark for President in 2004. Ballard was Communications Director at the California Labor Federation, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations from 2003 to 2004. He was Communications Director at the California Democratic Party in 2002. Ballard was Deputy City Attorney at the City and County of San Francisco from 1999 to 2001. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Motion Picture-Television from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ballard is a Democrat.

Charmaine McDarment, of Porterville, has been appointed to the San Joaquin River Conservancy Governing Board. McDarment held multiple positions at the Tule River Tribal Council from 2003 to 2026, including Councilmember, Chairperson, Director of Water Resources, and Special and General Counsel. She is member of the University of California, Los Angeles Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. McDarment earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $75 per diem. McDarment is a Democrat.