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Office of the Governor: Agency Subdivisions

Arrest and Return (Extradition)
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301-4047
Phone: 503-378-3111
Fax: 503-378-3514
Contact: Fran Lushenko, Extradition Officer

Duties and Responsibilities: Arrest and Return provides administrative services for Oregon’s extradition program.

Citizens’ Representative Office
Address: 160 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301-4047
Phone: 503-378-4582
Fax: 503-378-6827

Duties and Responsibilities: The Citizens’ Representative Office provides access and help for citizens who have problems, questions, ideas or suggestions about state government. The office uses supervised student interns and volunteer help to work with the heavy volume of mail and telephone calls. The citizens’ representative reports regularly to the governor, noting issues in state government that need attention. The office aims to treat all inquiries fairly, to examine each situation objectively and to respond in a clear and helpful way.

 

Diversity and Inclusion Office
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6524
Fax: 503-378-3225
Web: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/GovAA/index.shtml
Contact: Frank Garcia Jr., Director

Duties and Responsibilities: The Diversity and Inclusion Office directs and monitors affirmative action programs in all state agencies, a large portion of which is done on the basis of plans developed by state agencies. The director of affirmative action works closely with each state agency to assess its recruitment, placement, promotion and training practices with respect to achieving affirmative action goals. The director recommends and participates in affirmative action and equal opportunity training for state employees at all levels.

 

Economic and Business Equity
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6522
Fax: 503-378-3225
Contact: Cheryl Myers, Director

Duties and Responsibilities: The director is appointed by the governor and serves as a policy advisor on issues related to minority, women and emerging small businesses, and creates access to contracting opportunities for certified firms.

 

Education
Address: 160 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-5690
Fax: 503-378-6827
Contact: Ben Cannon, Education Policy Advisor
Statutory Authority: Chapter 652, Oregon Laws 1997

Duties and Responsibilities: Oregon is improving its education funding and governance process to deliver better results for students, more resources for teachers and better value for the future of the state. The Education policy advisor is focused on identifying research and policy options to create an efficient and accountable public education system that integrates early childhood development with K–12 and post-secondary education and training. By working closely with the chief education officer and the deputy superintendent of public instruction, the governor’s office is pursuing a home-grown system that will help students, teachers, and schools set and reach ambitious, but achievable, goals.

 

Energy
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6545
Fax: 503-378-3225
Contact: Margi Hoffmann, Energy Policy Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities: The energy policy advisor is focused on helping to develop and implement the governor’s 10 Year Energy Action Plan. The policy advisor works on strategies for the public and private utility sector, energy transmission, and transportation and infrastructure improvements.

 

Executive Appointments
Address: 160 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-3123
Fax: 503-373-0840
E-mail: executive.appointments@das.state.or.us
Contact: Kendall Clawson, Director

Duties and Responsibilities: Governor Kitzhaber makes appointments to nearly 300 boards and commissions representing a broad range of areas and issues for the State of Oregon. Most major state agencies and departments are headed by policy making boards appointed by the governor. These important citizens help the governor in his efforts to highlight advocacy, create innovative community strategies, generate policy and strengthen the responsiveness of governmental agencies.

Health Care
Address: 160 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-373-1558
Fax: 503- 378-6827
Contact: Mike Bonetto, Health Care Policy Advisor; Sean Kolmer, Health Policy Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities: Health care is now the single fastest growing cost for state government, both in its capacity as a large employer and also in its responsibility to provide health care for low income and vulnerable citizens through the Oregon Health Plan. The Health Care team is focused on identifying and implementing programs that reduce costs while resulting in better health. Oregon’s health care transformation aims to shift the focus from after-the-fact acute care to prevention, wellness and the community-based management of chronic conditions, in turn making health care more affordable for individuals, families and private sector businesses.

Jobs and Economy
Address: 160 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-5884
Fax: 503-378-6827
Contact: Scott Nelson, Jobs and Economy Policy Advisor; Dan Carol, Multi-State Initiatives Director

Duties and Responsibilities: Building Oregon’s economy is a top priority for the governor. State government can and must play a key role in creating a favorable environment for the private sector to build a vibrant and innovative economy. The Jobs and Economy advisor is focused on identifying ways to ensure that Oregon companies become more competitive and sustainable and on ensuring that economic recovery touches every part of Oregon, urban and rural. It is also important to maintain connections at the regional, national and international levels. The Multi-State Initiatives director is focused on positioning Oregon at the forefront of the clean economy, on health care transformation and on innovation in building and maintaining public infrastructure.

Labor and Human Services
Address: 160 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-373-1558
Fax: 503-378-6827
Contact: Duke Shepard, Labor and Human Services Policy Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities: The Labor and Human Services policy advisor represents the governor on labor and collecting bargaining issues and advises the governor on housing and community services, early learning and early childhood services, and self-sufficiency programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

Natural Resources Office
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6549
Fax: 503-378-3225
Web: www.oregon.gov/Gov/GNRO/
Contact: Richard Whitman, Brett Brownscombe, Gabriela Goldfarb, Tom Tuchmann, Policy Advisors
Statutory Authority: ORS 173.610

Duties and Responsibilities: The governor’s Natural Resources team convenes regular meetings of state natural resources agencies to ensure that state policies are consistently applied across agencies. The office facilitates resolution of policy differences between state agencies, federal agencies, and between agencies and stakeholders and provides direction and coordination for agencies on regulatory, planning and environmental issues that span multiple agencies. Examples include coordination of species recovery plans, implementation of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, permitting and review of energy facilities, and ocean conservation.

 

Regional Solutions
Address: 167 State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6502
Fax: 503-378-6827
Contact: Greg Wolf, Director

Duties and Responsibilities: Regional Solutions is an innovative, collaborative approach to community and economic development in Oregon. The state, in partnership with Oregon colleges and universities, established Regional Solutions Centers throughout Oregon. Each takes a bottom-up approach to development projects, working at the local level to identify priorities, solve problems and seize opportunities to complete projects. These centers integrate state agency work and funding to ensure that projects are completed in the most economical and streamlined process possible.

Transportation and Sustainable Communities
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6545
Fax: 503-378-3225
Contact: Lynn Peterson, Transportation and Sustainable Communities Policy Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities: The Transportation and Sustainable Communities policy advisor is focused on leading the governor’s policy efforts to align transportation investments with Oregon’s economy, housing needs, health and sustainability.

Veterans/Military and Emergency Management
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6545
Fax: 503-378-3225
Contact: Cameron Smith, Veterans/Military Policy Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities: The Veterans/ Military and Emergency Management policy advisor works closely with the leadership of the Oregon National Guard, the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs and the Office of Emergency Management to achieve the governor’s goals on related issues and to link to his other priorities.

 

Workforce Policy
Address: 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 126, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-6527
Fax: 503-378-3225
Contact: Agnes Balassa, Workforce Policy Coordinator

Duties and Responsibilities: The Workforce Policy coordinator is focused on ensuring Oregon has a skilled workforce ready to meet industry needs and compete in the marketplace with valuable, up-to-date skills. The work emphasizes programs that help people access workforce training and services for career transition and skill development.