Governor Gretchen Whitmer has welcomed Mark Totten back to the Executive Office of the Governor as chief legal counsel, which he previously held during her first term. Alexis Blane will serve as a special advisor to the governor.
As the governor’s top legal advisor, Totten will work closely with state agencies, the Attorney General’s office, and key partners to ensure Michigan’s laws and policies are implemented effectively and responsibly.
Before returning to the executive office, Totten was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. He has now served three times in the U.S. Justice Department, where he began his career in Washington, D.C. before returning home to Michigan. He was also a law professor at Michigan State University. Totten received his law degree and a Ph.D. in ethics from Yale University.
For the last year, Blane was acting chief legal counsel for Governor Whitmer, and will continue in a leadership role as special advisor. She joined the executive office in 2022 as special counsel, leading the office’s work on reproductive rights, education, and economic development.
Prior to serving in the governor’s office, she was the principal deputy counsel and acting counsel to the Mayor of New York City from 2018-2021. Blane has worked in the non-profit space and at the U.S. Department of State.
She attended New York University Law School and holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
As the governor’s top legal advisor, Totten will work closely with state agencies, the Attorney General’s office, and key partners to ensure Michigan’s laws and policies are implemented effectively and responsibly.
Before returning to the executive office, Totten was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. He has now served three times in the U.S. Justice Department, where he began his career in Washington, D.C. before returning home to Michigan. He was also a law professor at Michigan State University. Totten received his law degree and a Ph.D. in ethics from Yale University.
For the last year, Blane was acting chief legal counsel for Governor Whitmer, and will continue in a leadership role as special advisor. She joined the executive office in 2022 as special counsel, leading the office’s work on reproductive rights, education, and economic development.
Prior to serving in the governor’s office, she was the principal deputy counsel and acting counsel to the Mayor of New York City from 2018-2021. Blane has worked in the non-profit space and at the U.S. Department of State.
She attended New York University Law School and holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
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