Oregon House Republicans elected three officers this week. New caucus leader Jeff Helfrich of Hood River replaces Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson of Prineville, who stepped down. Also elected were Mark Owens of Crane as deputy leader and Kim Wallan of Medford as whip. Those slots have been vacant since Deputy House Republican Leader Shelly Boshart Davis of Albany and House Republican Whip E. Werner Reschke of Klamath Falls resigned as the 2023 Legislature was coming to a close.

Mark Cruz, who until July was chief of staff for the Oregon House Republican Office, has joined Gallatin Public Affairs as senior public relations manager.

Fritz Graham is the new district director for U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-6th District, replacing Suzanne Kunse. Graham, who has been Salinas’ deputy district director, was a longtime field representative for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. Kunse is departing after 23 years serving three Oregonians in Congress – Darlene Hooley, Kurt Schrader and Salinas.

Teddy Lake, Salinas’ communications director, is leaving for a job in the Biden administration. Sam Forbes, who was hired in May as digital outreach manager, has been promoted to replace her as communications director.

Salinas and U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-2nd District, are members of Congress’ newly revived Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus.

Sam West left Wyden’s staff, where she was deputy state communications director, and now manages Oregon statewide communications for Planned Parenthood. 

Rachael Banks, the state public health director, is returning to Multnomah County. The county commissioners are scheduled to vote Oct. 5 on County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson’s appointment of Banks to lead the county Health Department. She began work at the county in 2002, rising to director of the Public Health Division before taking the state job in 2020.

Marvin Révoal, whom Gov. Tina Kotek tapped in February to chair the embattled Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, will step down Oct 1. He was appointed to the OLCC in 2013. Commissioner Dennis Doherty will take over as chair. 

Oregon Public Utility Commissioner Mark Thompson is resigning to become senior director of state affairs at Massachusetts-based Form Energy, according to the Portland Business Journal. Kotek had just nominated Thompson to a second term on the three-member board, where he is the sole Republican. Gov. Kate Brown appointed him to the PUC in 2019. He previously worked for NW Natural, the Public Power Council and a law firm specializing in energy issues.

State Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, appointed Sens. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville, to the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council; Tim Knopp, R-Bend, and Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, to the Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services Task Force; Bill Hansell, R-Athena, to the Tribal Consultation Task Force; Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, to the Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting Task Force; David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, to the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority Board; and Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, to the Oregon Business Development Commission.