Whitmer’s Health Department Boss Got Nice Raise While Administering Lockdowns

As director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Gordon managed COVID-19 lockdowns on private sector businesses and blamed state residents for the persistent spread of the virus in 2020.

And while private businesses struggled and workers lost their jobs under his department’s orders, Gordon received a big pay increase.

Gordon was one of four members of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s cabinet who enjoyed pay hikes in 2020, a year when 70,088 Michigan businesses and millions of workers were harmed by the state-ordered lockdowns.

Gordon’s gross pay went from $162,007 in 2019 to $175,097 in 2020, an 8% increase.

The other cabinet members who received 2020 pay increases were:

-- Rachel Eubanks, state treasurer: $170,655 in 2019 and $175,436 in 2020.

-- Chris Kolb, budget director: $158,555 in 2019 and $168,573 in 2020.

-- Lizabeth Olson, director of the officer of the state employer: $144,243 in 2019 and $159,604 in 2020.

All four of these cabinet members were appointed by Whitmer in 2018. Gordon stepped down from his position last month.

The gross pay data comes from the response of the Michigan Civil Service Commission to a Freedom of Information Act.

Whitmer’s office didn’t respond to emails seeking comment.