New Faces, Same Mission: An Update on the Opioid Commission Leadership
At the Delaware Opioid Settlement Commission, we’re committed to being open, accessible, and accountable to the communities we serve. Whether it’s how we allocate settlement dollars or who’s sitting around the table making those decisions, transparency matters. In this post, we’re breaking down how the Commission is structured under state law and how member rotations work, and we’re giving a warm welcome to our newest and returning Commissioners.
How the Commission Works:
Under Delaware law (16 DE Code § 5196A), our 15-member Commission is responsible for overseeing and approving all grant allocations from the Settlement Fund and the Opioid Impact Fee Fund.
To make sure every corner of Delaware has a voice, our seats represent state agencies, local town and county leaders, behavioral health experts, and community advocates.
How the 15 seats are filled:
State Officials (Three Ex Officio Seats): The Attorney General, the Governor, and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.
General Assembly Appointees (Four Seats): Two members from the Delaware Senate (appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore) and two from the House of Representatives (appointed by the Speaker of the House), balancing both majority and minority caucuses.
Public Appointees (Two Seats): Two Delaware residents — one appointed by the Governor and one by the Attorney General.
County Government Representatives (Three Seats): One representative each from New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties, chosen by their respective county leadership.
Municipal Government Representative (One Seat): Appointed annually by the Governor from a slate recommended by the Delaware League of Local Governments to represent local towns and cities.
Subject-Matter Advocates (Two Seats): One representative from a substance use disorder advocacy group (appointed by the Attorney General) and one from the addiction recovery system (appointed by the Governor).
Understanding Term Limits and Staggered Terms:
Thanks to House Bill 169, Delaware law sets clear guidelines for how long members serve.
Standard Terms: Most appointed members serve two-year terms and can serve up to three terms total (a maximum of six years).
Municipal Representative Rotation: The municipal seat works a little differently — it rotates every year on July 1 among Delaware’s cities and towns to give different municipalities a chance to serve.
Staggered Schedules: To prevent all 15 seats from turning over at the same time, we use a staggered term schedule. When the system was first introduced, initial terms were randomly assigned as either one or two years. This keeps our institutional knowledge strong while regularly bringing in fresh perspectives.
Welcome to Our New and Reappointed Commissioners:
As part of our regular governance cycle and annual rotations, we are excited to introduce our newly appointed and returning members!
Newly Appointed Commissioners:
Dr. Marc Richman (Appointed by Governor Matt Meyer)
Role: Representative of the Addiction Recovery System
Bio: Dr. Marc Richman brings deep clinical expertise and decades of leadership in behavioral health, criminal justice, and addiction treatment across Delaware. A licensed psychologist, Dr. Richman previously served as the Bureau Chief of Correctional Health Care Services for the Delaware Department of Correction and as a senior administrator within the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH). On the Commission, Dr. Richman provides clinical oversight and strategic guidance to expand high-quality treatment, recovery supports, and evidence-based care across the state.
Christopher Coleman (Appointed by Governor Matt Meyer upon recommendation by the Delaware League of Local Governments)
Role: Municipal Government Representative (one-year annual rotation)
Bio: Christopher Coleman is the City Manager for the City of Milford. With over three decades of public service in local government — including serving as town administrator in Westwood, Massachusetts, where he managed a $116 million budget and secured $4.9 million in ARPA funding — Chris is an ICMA Credentialed City Manager. He brings extensive experience in fiscal management, municipal operations, and community development to his rotating seat representing Delaware’s cities and towns.
Reappointed Commissioners:
Dave Humes (Reappointed by Attorney General Kathy Jennings)
Role: Public Representative/Overdose Prevention Advocate
Bio: Dave Humes is a nationally recognized overdose prevention advocate and co-founder of atTAcK addiction. Inspired by the memory of his son, Gregory, Dave played a key role in passing Delaware’s Good Samaritan law and expanding public naloxone access. He brings deep community roots, lived experience, and unwavering passion to saving lives through the Commission.
Todd F. Lawson (Reappointed by Sussex County Council)
Role: Sussex County Representative
Bio: Todd Lawson has served as Sussex County Administrator since 2012, overseeing county operations, emergency services, and local budgeting. A Sussex County native and attorney, Todd ensures settlement dollars effectively reach southern Delaware’s rural communities, expanding local access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
Senator Stephanie Hansen (Reappointed by Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola)
Role: Senate Majority Caucus Representative
Bio: Representing Senate District 10, Senator Stephanie Hansen has a long history of public service, environmental law, and health policy. As Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy, and Transportation Committee and a member of the Joint Finance Committee, Senator Hansen brings strong legislative oversight and a focus on health equity to our funding decisions.
Representative Kendra Johnson (Reappointed by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown)
Role: House Majority Caucus Representative
Bio: Representing Delaware’s 5th District, Representative Kendra Johnson is a dedicated advocate for health equity, community wellness, and social justice. Her legislative work centers on expanding mental health access, supporting direct-service nonprofits, and directing state resources to vulnerable populations.
Representative Mike Smith (Reappointed by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown)
Role: House Minority Caucus Representative
Bio: Serving Delaware’s 21st District, Representative Mike Smith offers extensive experience in public policy and budget oversight. On the Commission, Representative Smith provides valuable bipartisan perspective, ensuring settlement funds are invested with fiscal discipline, clear accountability, and real community impact.
Honoring Departing Commissioners: Dr. Lynn Morrison
With this transition cycle, we want to share our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Lynn Morrison, who is wrapping up her service on the Commission. Dr. Morrison has been a compassionate, clinical voice for Delaware’s recovery community and served as Chair of our Behavioral Health Resources Committee. Her clinical insight and leadership in shaping statewide recovery strategies have left a lasting positive mark on our work. We thank Dr. Morrison for her dedicated service to our state and wish her the absolute best!