Contact Name:	Chris Havel
Contact Email:	chris.havel@state.or.us

The Oregon State Senate confirmed Governor Ted Kulongoski's appointments of James E. Brown of Salem and Sharon Rudi of Baker City to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday (April 19).

Brown, a former natural resource policy advisor to the governor, was appointed to serve a four-year term as the commission's Congressional District 5 representative. He succeeds Gleneden Beach resident William Gregory, who was reappointed by Governor Kulongoski to represent the area west of the Coast Mountain range on the seven-member commission. The Senate also confirmed Gregory's new four-year reappointment Tuesday.

Brown served as the Oregon state forester for 16½ years before his January 2003 appointment as the governor's natural resource policy director. He retired in September 2004.

The governor appointed Rudi, a Baker City real estate broker, to a four-year term as the commission's East of the Cascade representative. She has served on various local boards and civic projects, and is currently a member of the Baker City Planning Commission and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Board of Trustees.

Gregory, a retired lumber executive, was originally appointed in March 2005 to serve the remainder of an unexpired term. He previously served the state as the first chair of the Oregon Health Services Commission and as a board member for Oregon Public Broadcasting.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission establishes policy and adopts rules for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It has statutory authority to acquire property and set fees for the use of state park facilities.

The commission's other members are John Blackwell, chair and Congressional District 1 representative, of Portland; David Kottkamp, vice chair and Congressional District 2 representative, of Bend; Nick Blosser, Congressional District 3 representative, of Portland, and Sue Musser, Congressional District 4 representative, of Brookings.

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OPRD photos are available for download.

Direct general media inquiries to:

Chris Havel
Director's Office
chris.havel@state.or.us
(503) 986-0722

OR

Jean Thompson
Public Services Division
jean.thompson@state.or.us
(503) 986-0667

Or write:
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
North Mall Office Building
725 Summer St. NE
Suite C
Salem, OR 97301