He led California’s COVID-19 response. Now, after 5 years on the job, he’s leaving
He helped lead us through COVID-19. Now, he’s moving on.
California Secretary of Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly, who took the position in March 2019, is leaving the agency at the end of September.
Ghaly rose to California fame as a fixture of the at-times daily COVID-19 response press conferences held by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The policies, controversial to some, sought to help guide the Golden State through the worst of the pandemic.
In a statement, Newsom thanked Ghaly for his “heroic service.”
“For more than five years at the helm of CalHHS, his visionary and compassionate leadership and unwavering focus on protecting the most vulnerable among us has seen our state through unprecedented challenges and historic victories that improve the lives of Californians,” Newsom said in a statement.
Newsom’s office pointed out that Ghaly did more than just coordinate the state’s pandemic response. The secretary also created a master plan on aging, helped overhaul the state’s behavioral health system (courting further controversy) and more.
No reason was given for Ghaly’s departure, but in a press conference Friday, Newsom said Ghaly was going to spend more time with his children.
At the news conference, Ghaly said that it was “really a privilege of a professional career to get to work for this governor, this team, on behalf of 40 million Californians. We went through a lot. I think we achieved a lot, and I’m just really proud of all the things we’ve had a chance to touch and hopefully, moving forward, it’s just a reminder that California really does lead.”
He will be replaced by Kim Johnson of Sacramento, a Democrat, who previously headed the California Department of Social Services.
“Kim has been an indispensable partner in delivering foundational services that millions of Californians rely on, bringing decades of experience and expertise in this space,” Newsom said in a statement.
Johnson’s nomination still must be approved by the Senate, and if she is confirmed will earn a salary of $247,039.
Nicole Nixon contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 10:56 AM.