Well, that was quick

The guy that Governor Kohoutek brought in to run the state health department, James Schroeder, is already gone from the job. He lasted 36 business days before announcing that he wants to spend more time with his family. Which makes you wonder what's being covered up this time.

It's depressing news. I was mildly encouraged to see him take the post because he actually seemed qualified. But readers cautioned me that the more he knew about his field, the shorter his stay was likely to be. So now it's on with the usual "national search" stuff. We'll probably end up with another career Salem bureaucrat, maybe from the building permit bureau again.

Today's resignation comes on the heels of the appointment, announced yesterday, of a new behavioral health director at the state health department. And where did they find that person? Running Multnomah County's behavioral health operation. Because things are going so well in Multnomah County? Sheesh.

OHA welcomes its new Behavioral Health Director, Ebony Clarke.

Clarke has spent more than 10 years serving at the Multnomah County Health Department, most recently as director of behavioral health.

One of her first priorities at OHA is to “listen and learn,” she said. pic.twitter.com/7GcpEddj5J

— OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) March 3, 2023

At the risk of being rude, I'd say we don't need someone to be learning on the job at this point when it comes to the state's appalling mental illness epidemic. It's destroying our cities and countless lives. Maybe we should have found someone who's already learned what to do and is about to implement a clear vision, not go on a listening tour.

Between these two developments and the guarantee of more of the same at the corrupt liquor control commission, my Hope-o-Meter for the new Oregon administration has fallen out of the green and down into the orange in the short span of a few days. A plurality of the voters demanded the same old, same old, and they're going to get it.