Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, executive director of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, will take over the Oregon Department of Agriculture on Dec. 1. Gov. Tina Kotek announced her appointment this week, subject to state Senate confirmation in November. The position has been vacant for more than a year. Meantime, Bill Ryan, former deputy director of the Department of State Lands, will continue as acting director. Kotek appointed him as of Sept. 5. The Agriculture Department’s deputy director, Lauren Henderson, had been acting director.

Gov. Kate Brown had appointed Charpilloz Hanson to lead the watershed board in 2021, citing, “Her leadership in controversial natural resources issues and regulation and agricultural trade policy development, combined with her ability to develop meaningful collaboration.” She was the Agriculture Department’s deputy director for 15 years and in 2016 applied to be director. Brown instead chose Alexis Taylor, who last year became USDA undersecretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Kotek did not announce an acting director for the watershed board.

Natalie Newgard now is the chief of staff for the Oregon House Republican Office. She was chief of staff for Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, and previously worked for HRO. Helfrich was elected Sept. 26 as the new Republican leader. He said the HRO also will hire a communications director and additional policy analysts.

Kathy Wai was promoted to legislative director in the Secretary of State’s Office. She fills the position vacated when Jessica Ventura moved up to chief of legislative and policy affairs. Wai joined SoS in 2021 as redistricting administrator, then was promoted to legislative and policy adviser. Among previous jobs, she was civic engagement manager for APANO and legislative director for Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland.

Ellie Forness, who was chief of staff for Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, joined Stuart Collective as campaign director.

Peter Wedlake, who was chief of staff for Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland, went to work for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, as her state scheduler and outreach representative.

The Oregon Arts Commission elected Subashini Ganesan-Forbes, founder of New Expressive Works and the former creative laureate of Portland, as chair. Elected as the new vice chair was David Harrelson, Cultural Resources Department manager for The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Kathy Lara is the new policy analyst at the Oregon Center for Public Policy, where she will focus on “amplifying worker power and broadening bargaining rights.” OCPP said her previous work included supporting the rights of fast-food workers and organizing nursing home and Amazon warehouse workers.