OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER - Carpet in the Oregon governor's ceremonial office in the state Capitol in Salem

The Oregon House Republicans this week kept their leader but replaced her top assistants as they headed into the 2023 Legislature. They re-elected Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson of Prineville as House Republican leader, a position she’s held since last year. Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis of Albany was elected as deputy leader, replacing Kim Wallan of Medford. Rep. E. Werner Reschke of Klamath Falls was chosen as House Republican whip, replacing Lily Morgan of Grants Pass.

Gov. Kate Brown submitted only two nominees to state boards for approval by the state Senate this week. A Senate committee on Wednesday endorsed both former state Sen. Richard Devlin to the Energy Facility Siting Council, replacing Hanley Jenkins, and Dr. Ragan Borzcik to the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, succeeding Dr. Dean Wilson. Brown is leaving most vacancies for Gov.-elect Tina Kotek to fill, but these two appointments were needed to avoid quorum problems on the boards. The Senate meets Friday morning for the last scheduled time before Brown leaves office on Jan. 9.

Ron Bersin officially retired Nov. 30 as executive director of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. He resumed that job Dec. 1 as a retiree with the commission’s unanimous approval because state law will allow Bersin to collect both his salary and his PERS benefits. The double-dipping arrangement won’t cost the commission more, will give Bersin more money heading into retirement and will save a bit of money for the Public Employees Retirement System. He plans to work through December 2023 while the commission recruits his successor.

Newly elected Democratic state Rep. Jules Walters is resigning as West Linn mayor on Dec. 9, halfway through her four-year term. The city will hold a special mayoral election in May.

After six-plus years on the Oregon Employment Relations Board, Lisa Umscheid has returned to being a senior assistant attorney general in the Labor and Employment Section in the state Department of Justice.

Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot was sworn in last month as president of the Association of Oregon Counties. Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell is first vice president. AOC members elected Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer as AOC second vice president and Lake County Commissioner James Williams as treasurer.