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

Lacy Ramirez now is the calendar clerk for the Oregon House following five years as reading clerk. After 23 years in the House, Deputy Chief Clerk Obie Rutledge moved to the Senate as secretary. The chief clerk of the House, Tim Sekerak, used this as an opportunity to reorganize the office, dividing Rutledge’s responsibilities among other staff instead of having a deputy chief clerk.

A wooden Chinook salmon carved by 99-year-old former Senate President Gene Derfler, R-Salem, will be exhibited next to the Senate President’s Office during the legislative session that begins Monday. The chinook salmon is Oregon’s official state fish, an honor bestowed by the 1961 Legislature. Derfler is renowned for his woodworking. He carved the salmon for a friend, who is loaning it to Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, for display.

Laura Sanders, who taught at Portland Community College, joined the Legislative Policy and Research Office as editor, a new position. Taylor Bickel is the 2024 LPRO Fellow, serving in the education policy area. LPRO also has a number of new committee assistants for the session. 

Among the new legislative assistants are Cindy Kimball for Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, and Cassie Wilson for Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland.

Logan Gilles is now legislative coordinator for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality after initially filling the position last year on a temporary basis. He previously ran Val Hoyle’s campaigns for labor commissioner and Congress and was a top aide to Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, for over 10 years. 

New staff members at the Department of Land Conservation and Development include: Celestina Teva, housing planner; Laura Buhl, community green infrastructure coordinator, who is transitioning from DLCD’s transportation and growth management program; Chris Maurer, accountant; Richard Harvey, procurement coordinator; Adam Tate, renewable energy specialist; Nikki Cross and Kathy Kleczek, transportation and land use planners; Silas Carr, agency network intern; and Aurora Dziadul, legislative intern.

Cara Kaser, who has worked in IT for several state agencies, was promoted to infrastructure services director at state Enterprise Information Services, Data Center Services. 

Angi Bailey, president of the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, was elected to represent the western region on the American Farm Bureau Federation board. She operates Verna Jean Nursery, Gresham. Austin McClister is interim communications director for the Oregon Farm Bureau.

Dr. Robert Kelly, president of the University of Portland, was elected chair of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities. The Alliance is a consortium of 12 private, nonprofit colleges and universities.

Doug Boysen, president and CEO of Samaritan Health Services, was elected board chair for the Hospital Association of Oregon for the next two years. Jennifer Burrows, CEO of Providence Health’s St. Vincent and West Division, is chair-elect.