Oregon Republican gubernatorial candidate Drazan takes aim at Gov. Kotek over $96,000 ODOT hiring contract, tells her to leave the hiring to her in January

Oregon – Oregon Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan is criticizing Gov. Tina Kotek over the state’s decision to spend $96,000 on an outside firm to recruit the next director of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), saying she would handle the hiring herself if elected in November.

“Hey Tina, I’ll save you $96,000. Just leave the hiring to me in January,” Drazan wrote in an Oct. 23 post on X, responding to a Statesman Journal report that Oregon plans to pay an outside firm to help find the agency’s next director.

The remark comes as the two candidates face off in the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election, with the leadership of ODOT among the issues drawing attention to Kotek’s management of state government. The department oversees Oregon’s transportation system, including highways, roads and other infrastructure used by residents, businesses and travelers across the state.

The state’s procurement records show that ODOT sought executive recruitment services through a formal solicitation process. The contract was intended to cover advertising and marketing, executive search services, identifying qualified candidates and re-engaging potential applicants. State records identify Krauthamer & Associates as the firm selected for the recruitment effort.

The search follows months of uncertainty over who would permanently lead the transportation department. Former ODOT Director Kris Strickler announced his departure late last year and left the position in January. Lisa Sumption, who previously led the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, initially stepped in as interim director before returning to that agency.

In June, Kotek appointed Chris Warner, her chief of staff and a former director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, to serve as ODOT’s interim director while the state continued searching for a permanent replacement. Warner previously worked on transportation policy for former Gov. Ted Kulongoski and served as an adviser on transportation and infrastructure issues.

Photo Credit: Governor Tina Kotek on X

Oregon Public Broadcasting reported in June that the state’s earlier recruitment effort had stalled after a federal highway official who was brought to Oregon for interviews did not move forward as the candidate for the job. The failed effort came after months of searching and underscored the difficulty of finding a permanent leader for an agency facing significant financial and operational challenges.

ODOT has been dealing with a structural funding shortfall that has forced it to leave positions vacant and redirect resources toward basic maintenance. The agency has also warned that additional service cuts and layoffs could be possible if lawmakers fail to develop a sustainable funding plan. The department’s financial challenges have complicated the task of recruiting a director who would be responsible for managing its operations and planning for Oregon’s transportation needs.

The director’s position carries substantial responsibility. ODOT manages a statewide transportation network that includes highways, bridges, road maintenance and other infrastructure. The agency’s leadership also plays a role in overseeing major projects and determining how limited resources are allocated across the state.

The recruitment contract is separate from the director’s salary. The state’s job listing advertised a monthly salary range of $15,834 to $24,553 for the position, in addition to the cost of recruiting candidates through the outside firm. The listing said the recruitment would remain open until the position was filled, with an initial application screening scheduled for Nov. 9.

Drazan’s criticism comes during the final stretch of the governor’s race, as she seeks to unseat Kotek after losing to her in the 2022 election. The two candidates have continued to trade criticisms over state leadership and policy as voters prepare to decide whether Kotek will receive another term. Drazan’s post did not provide details about how she would conduct the hiring process or whether she would use state employees rather than an outside recruitment firm. Her comment instead focused on the $96,000 price tag and her assertion that the governor should leave the hiring decision to her in January.

The dispute places the cost of filling a top state government position into the broader campaign debate over spending, management and accountability. With the election approaching, the ODOT recruitment has become another point of contention between Kotek and Drazan as they present voters with competing approaches to running Oregon state government.