Updates About People

Last week, Michigan Auditor General Doug A. Ringler announced that he will retire in the spring of 2027. Ringler has been Michigan’s Auditor General since 2014, and had previously served as Michigan’s director of internal audit. Ringler said he will help with the transition of the next auditor general.

In related changes, Governor Whitmer has announced several new appointments and reappointments to the following state boards and commissions:

Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists

Clyde Mayberry – Succeeds Barry Lesnick

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission

Diane McCloskey – Reappointed

Lyke Thompson – Reappointed

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services

Carol Bergquist – Reappointed

Michigan Opioids Task Force

Caitlin Koucky – Reappointed

Helen Klingert – Reappointed

Catherine Kelly – Succeeds Stephen Alsum

Public Health Advisory Council

Charles Bloom – Succeeds Rory Lafferty

Michigan Board of Medicine

Tiffany Brown – Succeeds Nancy Wayne

Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

Dr. Jennifer Baldridge – Succeeds Nora Orow

Autism Council

Patricia Neitman – Reappointed

Health Information Technology Commission

Sarah Musser – Succeeds Maya Cleaver

Statewide Independent Living Council

Aaron Andres – Reappointed

Stacy Bobo – Succeeds Jamia Davis

Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports

Terra Castro – Succeeds Bryan Rief

Ira Newble – Reappointed

In a shock to all in the political world, on Sunday current Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced her endorsement of Republican Former Congressman Mike Rogers’s campaign for US Senate. Rogers is facing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Stevens in the Democratic Primary for the race back in August.

The Democratic primary gained national attention and was noted for the distinct differences between the two candidates. El-Sayed a progressive, critical of Israel and Stevens an establishment Democrat, who is staunchly pro-Isreal. During the primary campaign, tensions were high between El-Sayed and Stevens. While she initially endorsed El-Sayed after losing the primary, their feud was recently reignited when Stevens asked El-Sayed to condemn a political ad posted to social media that criticized Israel. El-Sayed refused, claiming neither he nor his campaign has any connection to the advertisement.

Despite the recent contention between them, El-Sayed and Stevens were both invited to attend a Democratic unity event being hosted at a church in Detroit. When Stevens proclaimed that she would only attend if El-Sayed denounced the group’s advertisement, El-Sayed declined and suggested that Stevens should not attend. On Sunday, Stevens instead joined Mike Rogers at a different church service. Afterwards, Stevens held a joint conference with Rogers announcing her change in endorsement.

The announcement was met with heavy criticism from many high-ranking Democrats who question her allegiance to the party. On the other hand, several Republicans, including President Donald Trump, applauded Stevens for her decision.

The effect of Stevens’ endorsement remains to be seen, as the announcement came just two days before election day, when more than 1.7 million Michiganders have already voted during the absentee and early voting periods.

Governor Whitmer has announced new appointments to the following state boards and commissions:

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission

Michael Vollick – Succeeds Gary Heidel

Autism Council

Renee Campbell – Succeeds Emily DeLaGarza

Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System Board

Leslie Bailey-Leonard – Succeeds Elizabeth Eastway

Public Health Advisory Council

Rebecca Bean – Succeeds Nancy Barr

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services

James Willis – Reappointed

Karen Wang – Reappointed

Jonathan Bischoff – Reappointed

Marisa Spain – Reappointed

Michigan Task Force on Physician Assistants

Charlotte Bradley – Succeeds Melissa Uslak