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Mayor-elect Charlie Hales has chosen a chief of staff: Former state Rep. Gail Shibley.
Shibley, who currently runs the Oregon Office of Health Licensing, was the first out lesbian to serve in the state legislature, holding office from 1991 to 1996.
She once held designs on City of Portland office herself. Shibley ran for City Council in 1996, beating Erik Sten in the primary before losing in a runoff against Jim Francesconi. Since then, she's held jobs in the Clinton White House and a seat on the Portland Planning Commission.
Hales tells WW he chose Shibley because he thinks she'll be a good temperamental match for the job.
"It was just her palpable excitement for the work," Hales says. "She's got a nice mixture of smile and steel."
The selection by Hales marks a shift away from his previous tenure in City Hall, as well as from his campaign brain trust. Rumored candidates for the chief of staff job included Ron Paul, who held the position when Hales was City Commissioner, and Josh Alpert, a campaign adviser.
Hales says Shibley will challenge him to take new approaches.
"We're not two peas in a pod," he says. "We won't always think alike. But I sense in her a real spirit of innovation. Let's shake things up."
WWeek 2015