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PHOTOS: Life as a leader during the pandemic – Gov. Kate Brown

Gov. Kate Brown talks during a video call with regional economic advisors in the south Willamette Valley and central Oregon coast on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

The last work day of February was a routine of meetings and travel for Gov. Kate Brown.

On the morning of Friday, Feb. 28, the governor convened by telephone the first meeting of her coronavirus response team and then met in Salem with House Democratic leaders before heading to Portland for the rest of the day.

She intended to finish up with an evening event but a 4:30 p.m. conference call changed that.

Pat Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, reported what officials had been expecting – the first instance of an Oregonian infected with COVID-19.

Ninety minutes later, Brown and others shared the news with Oregonians in a quickly arranged news conference.

Then, on Saturday night a week later, Brown declared a state of emergency, focusing state agencies and officials on facing the global pandemic then expected to sweep Oregon.

As state offices closed to the public, Brown shifted her daily operations from her office at the Capitol to state quarters in downtown Portland.

In the coming weeks, she issued one order after another, imposing ever-tighter restrictions across the state to limit the spread of the respiratory disease.

As with other public leaders, the governor turned increasingly to the phone and videoconferencing to manage Oregon’s response to the global pandemic.

She allowed Salem Reporter to shadow her for a morning to chronicle that that looks like. She provided unlimited access to photographer Amanda Loman.

Gov. Kate Brown and chief of staff Nik Blosser listen in during a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown holds a discussion with deputy chief of staff Gina Zejdlik and communications director Natalie King on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown heads to her next meeting on Monday, April 20. The governor and her key staff have been operating out of a state office in Portland in recent weeks. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown listens to an update from the state Employment Department during a revenue briefing on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown and Nik Blosser, her chief of staff, listen in during a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown works with communications director Natalie King to film a video message on the importance of voting for special education students at Ridgeview High School in Redmond on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown laughs after flubbing a line while filming a video message for students at Ridgeview High School in Redmond on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown and Natalie King, communications director, set up a video call on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown watches a presentation from Kaiser Permanente with other health officials on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Brown listens to updates during a revenue briefing on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown listens in during a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown listens in during a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Gov. Kate Brown reacts a presentation from Kaiser Permanente with other health officials on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

PREVIOUS LEADER ‘SHADOWS’….

Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett

Salem-Keizer School Superintendent Christy Perry

Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen

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