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

Patence Winningham will be deputy director of Oregon Emergency Management, coming from Lane County Emergency Management. In 2021, she was named Oregon’s Emergency Manager of the Year. Erin McMahon has begun work as OEM interim director, pending the Oregon Senate’s acting this month on her permanent appointment. Former Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton, who now works in workplace investigation and accountability for the state Department of Administrative Services, is joining OEM on a temporary basis through Nov. 15.

Former state housing director Margaret Salazar takes over late next month as CEO of Portland-based REACH Community Development. Since February 2022, she has been the Region 10 administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Before that, she was executive director of Oregon Housing & Community Services for five years.

Carol Cartwright will step in as interim Region 2 manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, serving the Willamette Valley and North/Central Coast. Sonny Chickering retired from the position but filled in temporarily. Cartwright, who has been at ODOT for 38 years, is the Region 2 tech center manager. 

After a lengthy search, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy is holding virtual informational interviews on Monday morning, Sept. 18, with three finalists for executive director: Douglas DeJong, Jamal Fox and Wassim Ayoub. The board has scheduled a closed-door session, followed by a public session, on Sept. 27 to consider the candidates.

Sara Kim, who was a legislative assistant for Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, is now chief of staff for Rep. Hai Pham, D-Hillsboro. Legislative director Pablo Nieves-Valenzuela left Neron’s staff to pursue government relations work. Marcella Martinson, who was a legislative assistant for Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, is Neron’s new chief of staff.

House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, appointed Reps. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, to the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council; Lily Morgan, R-Grants Pass, to the Oregon State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision; Daniel Nguyen, D-Lake Oswego, to the Oregon Innovation Council, replacing Bobby Levy, R-Echo; Virgle Osborn, R-Roseburg, to the Office of Administrative Hearings Oversight Committee; and Tom Andersen, D-Salem, to the Hunger Task Force.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp of Bend appointed Sens. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, to the Oregon Hunger Task Force and Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, to the Willamette Falls Locks Authority.

Washington County Circuit Judge Beth L. Roberts is retiring Sept. 30. Gov. Tina Kotek will appoint her replacement. Applications are being accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15.