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Top Oregon official put on leave for allegedly prioritizing ‘qualified’ job candidates over ‘gender identity’

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diversity, equity and inclusion A professional placed his former boss on administrative leave for prioritizing ability over personal identity when recruiting new employees, according to the report.

Megan Donecker, the former director of DEI strategy for the Oregon Department of Forestry, was dissatisfied with the agency's leadership, complaining that her boss, Mike Shaw, “looked beyond gender and identity in hiring to find the best qualified person for the job.'' “We are only looking for candidates who are qualified.” oregon live Reported.

Mr. Shaw served as the agency's deputy commander under State Forestry Officer Kalu Mukumoto until he was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 6 after Mr. Donecker filed a formal complaint against Mr. Shaw. Daily Mail reported.

A view of Mount Hood National Forest, a mountain and river preserve located just an hour and a half from the city of Portland, in Oregon on September 29, 2020. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) ((Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis, Getty Images))

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Donecker said he first challenged Shaw when he compared rapid change to speeding on an “icy road” and advocated for a cautious approach to DEI. She claimed that Shaw used this analogy to warn her, “Don't go 60 miles an hour out of the gate or I'll crash your car.”

He also claimed six gay staff members “didn't feel safe or comfortable” at work because they couldn't “converse using pronouns” and referred to the department as a “boys club”, according to the Daily. The Mail newspaper reported this, citing the formal complaint. Retrieved by OregonLive.

The Oregon Department of Forestry did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's investigation, but did respond to recent criticism of the agency, saying leadership “takes employee complaints and concerns seriously and has not brought them to our attention.” We will definitely take action if this is called out.” This includes protecting employees from retaliation. ”

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oregon state capitol

Oregon State Capitol. (Getty Images)

Forestry Officer Muku Honshu added, “Providing a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace is a shared core value and priority of both the Forest Service and the Forestry Commission.”

The pink-haired, tattooed Salem resident left the department and is now working as a DEI consultant, according to the Daily Mail. She described herself as “an accomplice to marginalized communities,” the newspaper said.

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OregonLive summarized that the department's leadership will have a significant impact on the state.

“The Department of Forestry is tasked with protecting approximately 16 million acres of public and private forest land and serves as Oregon's largest fire department,” local journalist Noel Crombie wrote. “It is overseen by Mr. Mukumoto, head of the Oregon Forestry Commission, a seven-member citizen board appointed by the governor. Manages an agency with employees and a biennial budget of approximately $577 million, with a salary of $237,288.

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Oregon broadly implemented DEI initiatives in response to political unrest over the 2020 killing of George Floyd, sparking racial justice protests that swept the nation and raged in nearby Portland for more than 100 straight nights. did.

However, residents gradually began to rebel. Clackamas County, Oregon, announced in January that it would eliminate its $830,000-a-year Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, calling it an “unnecessary expense” and “only adding to friction.”

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