Former state Rep. Rachel Prusak, D-West Linn, began work Thursday as the Oregon State Board of Nursing’s executive director. Longtime board employee Barbara Holtry had served as interim director since February. Prusak, whom the board officially appointed at its meeting Wednesday, became a family nurse practitioner in 2008 after serving as a registered nurse in hospice, case management, emergency room, neuroscience intensive care and medical/surgical roles. She joined the OHSU School of Nursing faculty on a part-time basis last year and previously was on the adjunct nursing faculty at the University of Hawaii.

Former state elections director Deborah Scroggin, who was forced out of the job by former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, is back with the city of Portland as elections and special projects manager.

Oregon House Democrats changed several caucus leaders for the 2023 interim and upcoming 2024 legislative session. Elected as deputy majority whip was Rep. Jason Kropf of Bend, replacing Rob Nosse of Portland. New assistant majority leaders are Maxine Dexter and Thuy Tran, Portland; Hai Pham, Hillsboro; Ben Bowman, Tigard; and Lisa Reynolds, Beaverton. They replace Kropf; Pam Marsh, Ashland; and Dacia Grayber, Portland.

The Legislative Policy and Research Office recently promoted Lisa Gezelter to principal legislative analyst from senior legislative analyst, Claire Adamsick to senior legislative analyst from legislative analyst, Danielle Ross to senior committee assistant from committee assistant and Tyler Larson to research analyst from senior legislative analyst. Daniel Dietz and Leslie Porter previously were promoted to senior legislative analysts from legislative analysts.

LPRO currently is seeking a criminal law policy expert to staff the Legislature’s judiciary committees. Among the staff whom LPRO also hired are legislative analysts Anna Glueder, House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water; Ellen O’Brien, education; Kevin Rancik, House and Senate housing committees; and Beverly Schoonover. Additional hires were research analyst Shauna Petchel, health care; Victor Urbieta, Spanish language interpreter; and committee assistants Morgan DuVal, Timothy Merrill and Allyson Niitani.

Knox McCutchen, who was communications director for Congressman Cliff Bentz, R-2nd District, now is press secretary for the U.S. House Committee on Small Business.

If you have an update on who’s coming or going — or taking on a new assignment — in state government or organizations involved with it, email Dick Hughes at TheHughesisms@gmail.com.