On this day, May 5, 1903, James Beard, US culinary expert, author (Delights & Prejudices), was born in Portland, Ore.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Mrs. Elsie Mitchell, the pregnant wife of a minister, and five children after they attempted to drag it out the woods in Lakeview, Oregon. The balloon was armed, and exploded soon after they began tampering with it. They became the 1st and only known American civilians to be killed in the continental US during World War II.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, Bly minister Archie Mitchell, his pregnant wife Elsie, and five children from Mitchell's Sunday school class were on a Saturday morning picnic. Thirteen miles northeast of Bly, or about sixty miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Mitchell parked the car, and Elsie and the children headed to Leonard Creek. Mitchell later remembered: "As I got out of the car to bring the lunch, the others were not far away and called to me they had found something that looked like a balloon. I heard of Japanese balloons so I shouted a warning not to touch it. But just then there was a big explosion. I ran up there--and they were all dead." It was a Japanese balloon bomb. They were 70 feet tall with a 33-foot diameter paper canopy connected to the main device by shroud lines. Balloons inflated with hydrogen followed the jet stream at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
Kotek cleans up after unexplained resignations
Governor Tina Kotek announced Chris Warner as her permanent Chief of Staff and named additional staff to her executive leadership team. She also named a new Housing and Homelessness Initiative Director. An
unexplained exodus of staff has caused several vacancies and a
nepotism scandal in which Kotek's wife was given a state-paid position after her wife announced that she was a mentally ill alcoholic.
Prior to his new role, Warner was Governor Kotek’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Public Administration, where he oversaw the office’s efforts to better align the Governor’s oversight of state agencies. With more than 30 years of public policy and political experience, Warner recently served as the Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation. In that role, he led a diverse 1,000-employee bureau and managed an annual $500 million budget. Prior to that, he served in various roles in Governor Ted Kulongoski’s administration, including Legislative Director and Senior Transportation Advisor. Warner, who is originally from Baker City, was also previously a top aide to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden.
“Chris Warner brings years of experience leading teams to implement large-scale initiatives, navigating complex budget cycles for both local and state government, and contributing executive-level management skills to challenges large and small,” Governor Kotek said. “I am excited he has stepped up to serve Oregonians in this new role.”
Other changes in the Governor’s Office include:
- Taylor Smiley Wolfe, formerly the Governor’s Housing and Homelessness Initiative Director, takes on a new position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor’s Initiatives. Smiley Wolfe was on the Governor’s transition team and has successfully led the Governor’s housing and homelessness efforts since the start of the administration. Smiley Wolfe brings leadership experience developing and advancing outcomes-oriented policy initiatives at different levels of government and has previously served as Director of Policy and Planning at Home Forward, the largest provider of affordable housing in the state, and Policy Director in the House Speaker’s Office.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
- Vince Porter, formerly the Governor’s Economic Development and Workforce Advisor, becomes Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Administration, taking over for Warner. Porter brings government relations and leadership experience having previously served as the Director of Regence Health Policy Center, where he led advocacy initiatives focused on finding solutions to affordable and accessible healthcare. Porter also served as Vice President of Public Affairs for Strategies 360 and as an Economic Development Policy Advisor for Governor John Kitzhaber and Governor Kate Brown.
- Kate Nass, the Chief Financial Officer for the State of Oregon, remains in her position and joins the leadership team to direct the Governor's Office Budget work. Nass brings over 14 years of budget and policy experience having previously served as the state's Deputy Chief Financial Officer, the Oregon Health Authority's Deputy Director of Finance.
- Matthew Tschabold will serve as the new Housing and Homelessness Initiative Director. Most recently as the Governor’s Housing Advisor, Tschabold was instrumental in passing Senate Bill 1537, part of Governor Kotek’s priority housing production package, in the 2024 legislative session. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Tschabold served as Policy and Planning Manager and Deputy Director for the Portland Housing Bureau and has 20 years of experience at the state and local level in community development and planning, public administration, and finance.
“These individuals have each meaningfully contributed to the progress my administration has made for Oregonians thus far,” Governor Kotek said. “The breadth and depth of experience on this team will deliver results for Oregonians in every part of the state.”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The Governor’s executive leadership team provides strategic advice to the Governor and is now comprised of the following:
- Chris Warner, Chief of Staff
- Taylor Smiley Wolfe, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor’s Initiatives
- Vince Porter, Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Administration
- Lindsey O’Brien, Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement (on leave)
- Andre Bealer, Equity and Racial Justice Director
- An Do, Public Affairs and Communications Director
- Richard Lane, General Counsel
- Berri Leslie, State Chief Operating Officer and DAS Director
- Bob Livingston, Legislative Director
- Kate Nass, Chief Financial Officer
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2024-04-23 10:18:36 | Last Update: 2024-04-23 10:16:29 |
