Governor Whitmer Makes Dozens of Appointments to Michigan State Boards, Commissions and Courts

Governor Whitmer Makes Dozens of Appointments to Michigan State Boards, Commissions and Courts

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a sweeping slate of appointments this week to nearly two dozen Michigan state boards, commissions, and courts, signaling continued activity in her office as the 2026 midterms approach.

On April 2, Whitmer appointed John Pyke to the Electrical Administrative Board, where he will represent master electricians as a supervisor for a term beginning August 1, 2026. Pyke, of Gaylord, is the vice president of service at Windemuller and has served in the U.S. Navy. He is a licensed master electrician and electrical contractor, and a member of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan.

The Michigan Board of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery received another appointment with Dr. Andrew Mastay, of Grosse Pointe, who will represent podiatrists for a term commencing July 1, 2026. Dr. Mastay is a senior staff physician at Henry Ford Medical Group and holds a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Des Moines University.

On the same day, Whitmer made numerous appointments to professional licensing boards, including the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, Board of Interpreters for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing, Michigan State Housing Development Authority Board of Directors, Michigan Gaming Control Board, Workers' Compensation Board of Magistrates, Michigan Veterans' Facility Authority Board of Directors, and Michigan Cherry Committee.

Additional appointments were made to the Michigan Historical Commission, both Oakland University and Ferris State University Boards of Trustees, Certificate of Need Commission, Committee on the Purchase of Goods and Services from Community Rehabilitation Organizations, Michigan Citizen-Community Emergency Response Coordinating Council, Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, Propane Commission, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services, Board of Barber Examiners, Michigan Board of Chiropractic, Michigan Board of Licensed Midwifery, Michigan Board of Social Work, Michigan Board of Medicine, Board of Professional Engineers, and Great Lakes Commission.

The breadth of these appointments underscores Whitmer's commitment to staffing Michigan's regulatory and advisory bodies with qualified Michiganders across a range of industries and professions, from healthcare and law to construction and education.

On April 1, Whitmer also made judicial appointments to fill vacancies on the state bench. Nicole Huddleston was appointed to the Oakland County Probate Court, taking office on April 17, 2026, to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Kathleen Ryan. Huddleston, of West Bloomfield, owns Huddleston Law, PLLC, and previously served as managing director at the Detroit Justice Center and as a staff attorney at Detroit Justice Center, Lakeshore Legal Aid, and Legal Aid and Defender.

Judge Allison Bates was appointed to the 4th Circuit Court in Jackson County, beginning April 13, 2026, to fill the partial term left by Judge Thomas D. Wilson. Bates has served since 2021 as a district court judge at the 12th District Court in Jackson County, where she has presided over the domestic violence docket. Previously, she worked as a judicial juvenile referee at the 4th Circuit Court.

Nicole Hughes was appointed to the 12th District Court in Jackson County, and Zachary Stempien was appointed to the 15th Circuit Court in Branch County. Both appointments were made to fill partial terms following judicial resignations.

"These skilled legal professionals bring years of experience and dedication to their communities to their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of Michigan admirably and uphold the rule of law," Whitmer said regarding her judicial appointments.

The state judiciary appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate, while appointments to most boards and commissions are not.

Whitmer's office released the appointments as the state continues to navigate the 2026 election cycle, with several statewide offices up for election including governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state treasurer. The appointments come as the lieutenant governor has also made his own appointments to various boards and commissions.

The Electrical Administrative Board makes recommendations for electrical code rules, grants annual licenses and certificates to qualified applicants, and makes all orders, rules, and regulations necessary for enforcement. This specific appointment was not subject to Senate advice and consent.

Similarly, the Michigan Board of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery was formed to license and regulate the practice of podiatric medicine and surgery, defined in the Public Health Code as the evaluation, diagnosis, management, and prevention of conditions of the lower extremities, including local manifestations of systemic disease in the human foot and ankle.