After a brief stint away from state government, Brian Turi Light is interim human resources director at the Oregon Youth Authority. He most recently was deputy chief human resources officer for Washington County after working for several state agencies.

Kathy Wai, legislative director for the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, is leaving that role. She will join the Department of Early Learning and Care’s government affairs team for a limited time as government affairs manager while that manager is out on leave.

After several years working on federal policy, Suzy Deuster joined the Oregon House Majority Office as district director for Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard. She began her federal career as a program examiner in the Executive Office of the President, managing over $8 billion and supporting presidential policies.

Reagan Knopp is now chief of staff for Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville. He had been chief of staff for his father, Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, whose legislative term ends in January.

Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, appointed new Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, to chair the Senate Rules and Executive Appointments Committee. Jama replaces the previous majority leader, Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland. During next month’s Legislative Days, the committee and full Senate will consider 36 people whom Gov. Tina Kotek has nominated for reappointment to government boards, commissions, councils and committees.

Wagner appointed Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, to the Oregon State Council for Juvenile Supervision.

Lesly Muñoz, of Woodburn, an organizer with the farmworkers’ union Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), declared victory Tuesday in the House District 22 race against Rep. Tracy Cramer, R-Gervais. Muñoz’s win, by 161 votes out of nearly 20,800, gives Democrats a supermajority in the state House, as well as the Senate. Her victory announcement stated: “A supermajority will allow Democrats to raise revenue. The last time Democrats held a supermajority was in 2019 when they passed a tax which has raised a billion dollars a year from large corporations for Oregon schools.”

President Donald Trump will nominate Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-5th District, for Labor secretary. A first-term lawmaker, she was defeated for reelection by state Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley.

Portland General Electric hired Jamie Painter as natural resources and federal affairs manager. She was a senior field representative for retiring Congressman Earl Blumenauer. Meanwhile, Blumenauer recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board.

Steve Bass, former CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting, joined the Oregon Parks Forever advisory board.

Jeston Black, who was Multnomah County’s director of government relations, is now deputy chief operating officer. Stacy Cowan took over as interim director of government relations.

After working for Legislative Advocates Government Affairs, Montana Lewellen opened Capitol Strategies in Salem.

Alethia Miller is Alaska Airlines’ state and local government affairs manager. She previously worked for the Legislative Policy and Research Office, Higher Education Coordinating Commission and Central Washington University.