Robb Cowie, the longtime communications director at the Oregon Health Authority, is now communications director for State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. Larry Bingham is OHA’s interim communications director. 

Attorney General Dan Rayfield appointed Steven Berman as special counsel. As a lawyer in private practice for more than 25 years, Berman focused on business and securities litigation, consumer disputes and election law. He will lead Rayfield’s efforts to establish a new labor enforcement team within the Department of Justice and also will help shape the consumer protection agenda. 

Michael Williams begins work Feb. 3 as Business Services director for the Secretary of State’s Office. He is the Central Services Division administrator at the Oregon Department of Energy, overseeing finance, operations and information technology. Before joining ODOE, he was an auditor at Oregon Housing and Community Services and served on Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s Executive Recovery Team, managing the response to the Great Recession of 2008. Williams also worked in the private sector. 

Among changes at the Oregon Department of Transportation, Suzanne Carlson was promoted to Public Transportation Division director. Kirsten Anderson is the new tribal affairs director. She worked in ODOT’s cultural resources program from 1999-2004 before moving to the private sector. She also was deputy director and chief curator at the Anchorage Museum in Alaska. Sylvia Hollander, government relations coordinator, came to ODOT from the Hawaii governor’s office.

State Forester Cal Mukumoto, who heads the Oregon Department of Forestry, resigned as of Jan. 23. Kate Skinner, the interim deputy state forester, will serve as acting state forester. She has worked for ODF since 1995. 

Gov. Tina Kotek is appointing former state Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, to the Public Utility Commission. Power is a natural resources adviser to Kotek. PUC chair Megan Decker is departing March 31. Kotek’s staff said that if Power is confirmed by the Senate next month, she will resign from the governor’s staff as of June 1 before becoming a PUC commissioner. 

Former KATU-TV reporter Emily Girsch is communications director for House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, Canby. Izaak Drazan and Audrey Traaen will serve House District 51 as Drazan’s legislative assistants. The House Republican Office staff also includes chief of staff, Rebecca Wright; deputy chief of staff, Jacob Vandever; deputy communications director, Sam Herscovitz; legislative director, Ryan Tuthill; and policy analyst, Adam Marl.

New staff for the Secretary of the Senate are Jason Frederickson, sergeant at arms; Misty McCord, honorary page coordinator and assistant sergeant at arms; and Joshua Nearing, Senate page.

The legislative Black, Indigenous, People of Color Caucus reelected Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, and Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, as co-chairs. Also reelected were Rep. Andrea Valderrama, D-Portland, vice chair of member support and external engagement, and Reps. Travis Nelson, D-Portland, and Nathan Sosa, D-Hillsboro, vice chairs of policy and communications. 

Sam Evans is chief of staff for Rep. Darcey Edwards, R-Banks.

Michael Vasquez, legislative aide for Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, was engagement director for U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas’ election campaign.

Former Oregon House staffer Kennedy McEntee moved to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as a public affairs specialist. Former Oregon Senate staffer Dominique Rossi was promoted to chief communications and engagement officer at the Oregon State Bar.