There’s more on the Jeff Cogen affair today with Willamette Week reporting that at the time he gave his mistress, Sonia Manhas, a promotion she was working for him and sleeping with him. 

Manhas is director of policy and planning for the county health department. She was promoted to that position in in September 2012, during the time she and Cogen were having the affair.The details of her promotion—which have not previously been reported—raise further questions about Cogen’s judgment.

Furthermore, WW reports there was no competition for the job for which she received a 20% increase. 

Cogen has a history of giving women he’s sleeping with jobs on the public dime. His wife reportedly is in charge of the Children’s Levy,

He became City Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s chief of staff in 2003, where he helped Saltzman launch the Portland Children’s Levy. (Pellegrino is director of the Children’s Levy fund.) 

County workers blew the whistle on Cogen in emails to the other Commissioners,

The affair became public on Monday when an anonymous tipster sent an email to all five county commissioners.

“Once again, I have been disappointed by the leadership at Multnomah County,” the email said. “Employees at Multnomah County have spotted Chair Cogen kissing Sonia Manhas in front of the Kenton Library and in a booth and at a bar in Portland along with a few other ‘sightings.’ Keep in mind that Sonia is in charge of ‘policy’ at the health department.  This information is being spread among County employees.  

“This behavior shows lack of values, principles and judgement,” the email continued. “You have a choice, you can ignore this or you can address it. But, it you choose to ignore this information, things will only get worse and morale will continue to decline.  What a shame if this information ever got leaked to the media……”

As for paramour Sonya Manhas? She’s gone dark, refusing interviews and taking her FB page down.