Oregon insiders: Who’s who in and around state government
Published 4:42 pm Thursday, May 5, 2022
- Former Rep. Greg Walden at the unveiling of his portrait in Washington, D.C.
• Alexis Taylor, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, appointed Jonathan Sandau as assistant director. He will lead the agency’s legislative and external affairs work. Sandau has been special assistant to the director, focusing on the Legislature, budget development and strategic planning.
• Hans Bernard, associate vice president for state affairs at the University of Oregon, will become Nike’s director of North America government and public affairs. Bernard also is the current president of the Oregon Capitol Club, the organization of lobbyists working with legislators and state government officials.
• Ryann Gleason left the office of House Speaker Dan Rayfield, where she was deputy legislative director, to join the Oregon state affairs staff at CFM Advocates. Her new job begins June 6.
• Economist Michael Meyers is leaving Business Oregon to for a position doing macroeconomic research at NW Natural.
• The Oregon Department of Transportation is recruiting for a government relations liaison to “lead a team of consultants and agency staff in developing and executing a comprehensive public affairs strategy that advances the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program at the regional, state and federal level.” The project is the new version of the Columbia River Crossing. Applications for the job, which pays $83,040 to $128,436, are due May 16.
• Chris Pair is handling political-oriented issues for Gov. Kate Brown. He started Althea, a public affairs and government relations firm, in January 2020. Pair rose to communications director in Brown’s office after several roles there and in Brown’s campaigns. He previously was deputy communications director for Gov. John Kitzhaber and a producer for KPTV and CNN.
• Thomas Wheatley, who served as Brown’s campaign manager from September 2017 to September 2018, is a consultant and spokesman to Tina Kotek’s gubernatorial campaign. Wheatley also did a temporary stint in the governor’s office to cover for a top staffer on maternity leave.
• Pac/West Lobby Group has hired Henry T. O’Keeffe as vice president of legal affairs. His role will include writing proposed legislative concepts and amendments on behalf of clients. He previously was general counsel for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.
