Longtime Oregon journalist Andrew Cutler is returning to La Grande and starting a new job Monday as Democratic U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s Eastern Oregon field representative. He replaces Kathleen Cathey, who retired. Cutler most recently was executive editor of the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho. He previously worked in Pendleton, Hermiston, Ontario, La Grande and South Dakota.

Another long-timer, lobbyist Arthur Towers, has retired after working as political director for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and previously SEIU Local 503.

The Association of Oregon Counties hired Justin Low as a legislative affairs manager handling governance, revenue and economic development issues. He had worked for Democratic lawmakers and the Oregon Justice Resource Center. Will Fett joined AOC last week as member services director. He previously was outreach coordinator and tribal liaison for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, appointed himself to the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits and appointed Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, as co-vice chair. Meanwhile, Sen. Fred Girod, R-Silverton, departed from the Judiciary Committee.

Miles Palacios has returned to the office of Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, as her chief of staff.

Gov. Tina Kotek appointed Kirk Maag, an environmental and natural resources attorney at Stoel Rives, to the State Board of Agriculture, effective immediately. He will serve a four-year term with the option for a second term. Maag grew up working on his family’s farm and feedlot in Eastern Oregon.

Kotek appointed Ryan R. Rodighiero as Gilliam County district attorney, replacing Kara Davis, the new Wasco County DA. Rodighiero was chief deputy DA in Union County after being a deputy DA in Coos County.

The State Land Board on Tuesday is expected to appoint attorney and scientist Kaitlin Lovell of Colton to the Elliott State Research Forest board. She has worked for the city of Portland since 2007 after serving as salmon policy coordinator and counsel for Trout Unlimited.

New and recently promoted employees at the Department of Land Conservation and Development include Alyssa Bonini, legislative and policy analyst; Emily Dovzhik, grants accountant; Jesse Noone and Anna Murphy, natural hazards mitigation planners; Anna Roller, coastal state-federal relations coordinator; and Aaron Priest, IT business analyst.

If you have an update on who’s coming or going – or taking on a new assignment – in state government or organizations involved with it, email Dick Hughes at TheHughesisms@gmail.com.