Kitzhaber names chief deputy as Lincoln County DA

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - Gov. John Kitzhaber is appointing Lincoln County’s chief deputy district attorney to be the county’s top prosecutor.

Kitzhaber’s office announced the promotion for Michelle Branam on Tuesday.

Branam has worked in the Lincoln County district attorney’s office for a decade and previously was a prosecutor in Wasco County. She’s a graduate of Ohio State University and earned her law degree from the University of Idaho.

Branam replaces former District Attorney Rob Bovett, who resigned to take a job with the Association of Oregon Counties.