OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER - Carpet in the Oregon governor's ceremonial office in the state Capitol in Salem

• Jim Rue, who retired April 29 after 12 years as director of the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, died this week. He received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis a few weeks after retiring, began treatment but recently returned home under hospice care.

• State Rep. Anna Williams, D-Hood River, is resigning as of Aug. 14. The next day, she will start her new job as executive director of Oregon’s System of Care Advisory Council, which she described as “a nonpartisan government organization established by the legislature. The Council is charged with overseeing children’s mental health system planning in Oregon, and helping the state implement the ‘System of Care’ philosophy, which focuses on inter-agency, community-based, and culturally and linguistically responsive services for youth who face multiple challenges in receiving quality care.”

• Nik Blosser, former chief of staff to Gov. Kate Brown and aide to President Joe Biden, will join Portland General Electric on July 25 as vice president of public policy, government affairs and communications. Blosser worked for Brown during 2017-2020, served on the Biden-Harris transition team, and since March 2021 was chief of staff and deputy cabinet secretary in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs.

• Joel Kasnetz, who has worked Democratic campaigns around the country, is the new campaign manager for Jamie McLeod-Skinner, Democratic nominee in the 5th Congressional District. Nichole van Eikeren was campaign manager. Marissa Sandgren is the new communications director.

• Knox McCutchen is the new D.C.-based communications director for U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-2nd District. McCutchen comes from the office of U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, R-North Carolina 9th District.

• In media news: Lynne Terry is the new editor of the Oregon Capital Chronicle, a nonprofit website focused on state government. Moving up from deputy editor, she succeeds founding editor Les Zaitz, who retired. Julia Shumway was promoted to senior reporter. Before joining the Chronicle last year, she covered state government in Arizona and was the city/county reporter for The Bulletin in Bend. Gordon Friedman, who covered state government for the Statesman Journal and The Oregonian – and then was The O’s City Hall reporter before becoming a performance auditor for the city of Portland – is headed to the University of Denver to pursue a master’s degree in accountancy. He plans to continue working in fraud investigation and prevention.

• At the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, Krista Parent was promoted to deputy executive director following the retirement of Colin Cameron. Shelly Reggiani, from the North Clackamas School District, is the new senior director of learning, equity and communications.