Sarah Roth joined the Oregon Department of Justice as head of the Administrative Services Division, overseeing Human Resources, Information Systems, Facilities and Procurement, and Financial Services. She replaced Marc Williams, who retired after 14 years in that role. Roth began her state government career in 2000 at the Department of Consumer and Business Services, was chief procurement officer for the Secretary of State’s Office and most recently was Central Services administrator for Oregon Housing and Community Services.

Joel Metlen starts July 8 as deputy director of programs at the Department of Early Learning and Care. He moves to DELC from the Oregon Department of Human Services, where he was strategic projects director.

Ellie Forness, who was chief of staff for Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, and then had a short stint at Stuart Collective, joined the Department of State Lands this week as policy and legislative analyst.

Tara Kroft, who was a legislative fellow at DSL and a legislative intern for Sen. Jeff Merkley, now is a Democratic research assistant with the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Chris Crabb is the new public information officer at Oregon DMV – the Driver and Motor Vehicles division of the Oregon Department of Transportation. She was in public affairs for the Department of Emergency Management after working for Weinstein Public Relations and running her own PR firm.

Andrea Durbin, the longtime head of the Oregon Environmental Council before working for the city of Portland and then the Oregon Community Foundation, was hired as policy and strategic investments manager in ODOT’s Public Transportation Division. Meanwhile, Trevor Sleeman was promoted to strategic initiatives adviser at ODOT.

Returning to Oregon from Colorado, Kim Tolchinsky now is health care provider incentives and project coordinator at the Oregon Health Authority.

Jeff McAllister joined the Employment Department as a workforce analyst/economist serving Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake counties.

Lincoln County District Attorney Lanee Danforth, who did not seek reelection this year, will resign June 21. Jenna Wallace won a majority of votes in the May 21 election to succeed Danforth.

Gov. Tina Kotek appointed Cristina S. Patnode, former Gilliam County justice of the peace, as Gilliam County Court judge. Patnode received nearly 62% of the vote in the May primary.

Matt Donegan and Karen Moynahan will join the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission in July. Gov. Kotek appointed them to succeed commissioners Kathleen George, who is the current chair, and Sam Baraso, who is vice chair. Baraso will serve through the summer to help with the transition. The EQC will choose its new chair at the July 12 meeting.

House Speaker Julie Fahey appointed six people to the Task Force on Specialty Courts: Chris Behre, Multnomah County public defender; Laura Ruggeri, Lane County public defender; Aaron Gosney, Marion County juvenile and parole probation officer; Baker County Commissioner Shane Alderson; Jay Scroggin, director, Adult Services Division, Multnomah County Department of Community Justice; and Kimberly Keller, Department of Human Services Child Welfare Department. Senate President Rob Wagner’s appointments to the task force are Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson; Aaron Knott, policy director, Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office; Chris Wig, executive director, Emergence Addiction and Behavioral Therapies; Kathy Brazell Sevos, director of transition and reentry services, Volunteers of America Oregon; and Black Butte Police Chief Jason Van Meter.

Lobbyist Darrell Fuller is starting a two-year term as board chair for the American Red Cross Northwest Oregon Chapter.