Gov. Tina Kotek on Thursday announced a cascading series of leadership changes following Berri Leslie’s resignation as director of the state Department of Administrative Services. Pending state Senate confirmation, the appointments will take effect in June when Leslie leaves.

— Betsy Imholt, director of the Department of Revenue since 2020, will take over Administrative Services, becoming the top state bureaucrat.

— David Gerstenfeld, director of the Oregon Employment Department since 2020, will lead Revenue.

— Andrew Stolfi, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services since 2020 and the state insurance commissioner, will become Employment director. There will be an open recruitment for the next director of DCBS.

Leslie, Imholt, Gerstenfeld and Stolfi were appointed to their current roles by Gov. Kate Brown.

Kotek fired Oregon Youth Authority Director Joe O’Leary a month after placing him on administrative leave. The governor appointed Jana McLellan, who was serving as interim deputy director, as acting director. O’Leary had worked for OYA since 2012.

Hanna Seay joined Kotek’s public affairs and communications team last week as strategic content creator after working nearly three years with Winning Mark, a Portland-based media and campaign firm. She has a background in social work plus experience in legislative affairs and elections in Oregon, Georgia, Virginia, Texas and elsewhere.

Jihun Han is now chief of staff for U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. He was Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff when she represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.

House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, appointed Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, as vice chair of the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response.

Nathan Soltz, 27, on Sunday was elected as the youngest-ever chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. Soltz, of Salem, is chief of staff for Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland. Reelected as vice chairs were Eileen Kiely and Kim Schmith. Jesse Maldonado was elected secretary.

Clackamas County Circuit Judge Kathie F. Steele is retiring June 30. Kotek will appoint Steele’s replacement. Applications are due March 31.

Bobby Lee, who was Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s chief of staff, joined Strategies 360. He also worked for the city of Seattle, was a regional solutions coordinator for Govs. John Kitzhaber and Kate Brown, and was director of economic development for Prosper Portland.

Helen Edwards rejoined the state Higher Education Coordinating Commission this month, having been appointed by Kotek and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. She previously served from Oct. 2, 2020, to Feb. 15, 2024. A co-founder of Artificiality, Edwards now fills the at-large seat previously held by Rukaiyah Adams.

The League of Oregon Cities announced three employee promotions: Angela Speier, chief operations officer; Claire Wilson, projects and affiliates coordinator; and Heather Larson, training coordinator.

A memorial bench at the Oregon Public Safety Academy was dedicated Monday in honor of the late Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers. He chaired the Oregon Board on Public Safety Standards and Training during 2016-2019. After retiring as sheriff, Myers served as executive director of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association.

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.