Mayor Charlie Hales' Chief of Staff Jumps Ship

Josh Alpert leaves July 1 to become director of special projects for a group seeking to address climate change.

Josh Alpert, Mayor Charlie Hales' chief of staff since June 2015, is leaving City Hall to take a job as director of special projects for C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a network of cities working to address climate change.

The departure is not entirely surprising. Hales' carriage turned into a pumpkin last week when a majority of voters picked Ted Wheeler to be Portland's next mayor. By squeaking past the 50 percent threshold, Wheeler avoided a November runoff, and Hales became a lame-duck mayor six months sooner than some expected.

It was already clear last month that Hales' had the future employment of his staff on his mind as he railed against a proposal from the city's elected auditor to broaden Portland's prohibitions on former top-level city employees' returning to City Hall as lobbyists. Due in part to Hales' distaste for the new regulations, a vote on the auditor's proposal has been delayed.

Alpert rose from policy director to chief of staff in summer 2015 after Hales eased out Gail Shibley, a move then seen as a sign that Hales was preparing for a 2016 re-election bid. Hales decided in October 2015, however, not to run for a second term.

Alpert has been instrumental recently in helping Hales to address the housing emergency in Portland.

Alpert's last day is July 1. His new job, while based in Portland, won't involve any lobbying of city government, says Sara Hottman, a spokeswoman for the mayor.

Tera Pierce, Hales' deputy chief of staff, will replace Alpert.

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