After about eight months as counsel for the Oregon House Republican Caucus, Joseph Pickels has returned to private law practice, taking a job as an associate attorney at Hart Wagner LLP.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has several new field representatives in Oregon:

• Bre Irish, who had been working in Wyden’s D.C. office, fills a new position covering Clackamas, Hood River and Wasco counties.

• Nichole van Eikeren handles Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Klamath and Lake counties. A Bend resident, she replaces Jacob Egler, who moved to Wyden’s D.C. office.

• Carina Perez Europa covers Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. She previously was the clean air organizer for Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility in Marion County and a field organizer for Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN). She replaces Fritz Graham, a longtime Wyden aide who now is deputy district director for U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-6th District.

• Ree Armitage, a Wyden field representative since 2014, moved to a new role covering Washington, Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook and Lincoln counties. He continues to work on labor, tax, trade, transportation and business policy. 

Samuel Forbes joined Rep. Salinas’ D.C. office as digital outreach manager. He was press assistant/legislative correspondent for Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez, D-California.

Starting June 20, Ana Potter will be the new Field Services chief for the Division of Child Support at the Oregon Department of Justice. She replaces Tammy Kramer, who retired after 40 years with the department. Potter has been the director of Aging Veteran Services in the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Gov. Tina Kotek appointed former Coquille Mayor Matthew Muenchrath, a lawyer and part-time municipal judge, to the Coos County Circuit Court. He replaces Judge Megan Jacquot, whom Gov. Kate Brown had elevated to the Oregon Court of Appeals.

House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, named Rep. Daniel Nguyen, D-Lake Oswego, to the Oregon Retirement Savings Board. Nguyen replaces Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland.

Rayfield recommended that Gov. Kotek appoint Jody Wiser to the Oregon Charitable Checkoff Commission. Wiser, co-founder of Tax Fairness Oregon, would fill the vacancy created by Jim Bernau’s resignation.

The Oregon Army National Guard promoted Brig. Gen. Gregory T. Day to major general on June 9. He will be special assistant to the Combatant Command, NORAD/NORTHCOM for National Guard matters and liaison to the chief, National Guard Bureau. In civilian life, he is a lawyer in Grants Pass.

Rukaiyah Adams of Portland, former chair of the Oregon Investment Council, is among 23 people worldwide chosen by the Aspen Institute for its new class of Finance Leaders Fellows. During the two-year program, the fellows pursue solutions to such issues as closing the racial wealth gap and improving access to affordable housing. Adams is CEO of the 1803 Fund and chair of the Albina Vision Trust board.

ODOT’s new labor equity manager is Justin Fontenot. He primarily will be working with the community workforce agreement and external parties on labor-related issues.