US: Utah health department ‘reorganizes’ communications team following condom controversy

By Erin Alberty

The Utah Department of Health has replaced its top spokesman, but it won’t say whether the change is related to a controversial HIV awareness campaign this month featuring Utah-themed condoms.

Charla Haley has been named director of communications for the department; Tom Hudachko, the former director, is now listed under “Communications for Medicaid,” according to a news release issued Wednesday.

"Due to some staffing changes and reassignments, the Office of Public Information and Marketing (OPIM) has been reorganized," the statement reads. "No further comments will be made regarding these changes."

The reorganization comes about two weeks after the department suspended an HIV awareness campaign amid criticism of its risqué Utah-themed condom packaging. The cardboard envelopes riffed on various Utah memes, with labels such as “Greatest Sex on Earth,” “SL,UT,” an image of a highway sign that displays the number of miles to towns “Fillmore” and “Beaver,” and “This is the Place” over a drawing of a bed. Read more via Salt Lake Tribune