Portland, OR—Announcement includes Deputy Chief of Staff, General Counsel, and Directors to Lead Communications, Legislative Affairs and Racial Justice Work

Portland, OR — Today Governor-Elect Tina Kotek announced several senior staff members who will join her administration and Executive Team:

Lindsey O’Brien will serve as the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement. O’Brien brings more than a decade of experience in Oregon politics to the role, including serving as Chief of Staff in the Oregon House Speaker’s Office and the Oregon House Majority Office. O’Brien draws on several years of communications experience, having also served as Communications Director for the Oregon House Speaker’s Office and Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s 2014 campaign. As Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement, O’Brien will help lead the strategic vision for the Governor's Office, and provide direction to support the communications, equity and racial justice, and federal affairs teams.

An Do will serve as the new Director of Public Affairs and Communications. Do comes to the administration having most recently served as the Executive Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon & Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon (PPAO/PP-PAC). Do also served as the Political Director for PPAO/PP-PAC and Communications Director for a statewide campaign to defeat ballot measure 106. She holds a Master’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in English from University of California at Berkeley.

Richard Lane comes to the administration as the new General Counsel. Lane earned his law degree from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in 1986, and is the former chairperson of the Oregon State Bar Procedure and Practice Committee, and former chairperson of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Legislative Committee. Lane was also a member of Governor Brown’s Judicial Selection Committee.

Becca Uherbelau will serve as the Governor’s Equity and Racial Justice Director, leading the development, implementation, and integration of efforts to increase meaningful access and public engagement and achieve equitable practices and outcomes in State Government. Uherbelau has been leading organizations and efforts to advance racial justice in the community and public sector for the last couple of decades. Most recently, Uherbelau worked with the Multnomah County Chair to address homelessness and increase capacity in community based organizations. She has served as the Community Relations Manager for Metro, leading the community engagement and partnership work to develop Metro’s Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity. Uherbelau has also led community-based and advocacy nonprofits.

Bob Livingston will serve as Legislator Director and Labor Liaison and joins the Governor’s Office with more than 30 years of experience in the Oregon Fire Service, and 20 years of experience serving as the President or Legislative Director of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council. In those roles, Livingston oversaw and managed the council’s legislative, policy and political advocacy work. He also served as President of the Salem Professional Fire Fighters Association. Livingston earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Portland State University.

“I am thrilled to bring on these experienced leaders to help lead my administration as we work to take on the most urgent issues facing our state,” said Governor-Elect Kotek. “Every one of them brings valuable insight and experience, and a shared commitment to get things done for Oregonians.”