U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-5th District, has a new legislative director. Joe MacFarlane previously was legislative assistant for Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Arkansas. He also worked for Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Indiana. Marcus Brubaker, who began the year as Chavez-DeRemer’s deputy chief of staff and legislative director, is now senior policy advisor for Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming.

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold was promoted from colonel and sworn in Tuesday by Gov. Tina Kotek as the adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard. Among those attending the investiture ceremony were two previous adjutants general, retired Major Generals Raymond F. Rees and Michael E. Stencel.

Angelica Cruz was hired as Oregon’s first literacy director. Her role is to lead improvement in student literacy while supporting culturally responsive, researched-aligned literacy practices. Before joining the Oregon Department of Education, she was director of early learners for Portland Public Schools. Her 19 years in education, starting with Teach For America, include jobs as a teacher, principal, instructional coach and assessment director. 

The Legislative Policy and Research Office added three employees. Conner Egan and Jules Dellinger are analysts for judiciary. Sara Cavaletto is staff interpreter for American Sign Language. 

Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell was elected president of the Association of Oregon Counties for a one-year term that began Nov. 17. Jennifer Lewis-Goff joined AOC as a legislative affairs manager handling public safety, veterans services and community development issues. Michael Burdick, who previously covered public safety and community development, has taken on the governance, revenue and economic development portfolio.

Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann was elected as the 2024 president of the League of Oregon Cities, succeeding Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway. North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke was elected vice president. New board members are Dayton City Manager Rochelle Roaden and Sherwood Mayor Tim Rosener.

Sandy Rowe, who was editor of The Oregonian from 1993 to 2010, will become chair of the state Higher Education Coordinating Commission in January. Commission members elected Greg Hamann, president emeritus of Linn-Benton Community College, as the incoming vice chair.

State Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, is recovering from knee replacement surgery.

On Jan. 1, Gary Fisher will take over as executive director of Multifamily NW, Oregon’s largest association of rental housing providers. Deborah Imse is retiring after 23 years in the role. Fisher has been deputy executive director since the spring of 2022.

Strategies 360, a prominent Pacific Northwest lobbying and public affairs firm, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid a legal dispute between co-founders Ron Dotzauer and Eric Sorenson. The Oregonian first reported the filing, followed by The Seattle Times. The who’s who on the Oregon staff include former State Treasurer Randall Edwards and former Oregon House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson.