Governor Tina Kotek Appoints LaVonne Griffin-Valade as Oregon Secretary of State

Governor Tina Kotek has announced the appointment of LaVonne Griffin-Valade as the new secretary of state for Oregon. Griffin-Valade will be replacing Shemia Fagan, who resigned under pressure in May. The announcement came as a surprise to many political observers, as Griffin-Valade had left government service in 2014 to pursue a career in writing. Kotek stated that Griffin-Valade has the professional background and ethical judgment to lead the important work of the agency forward and restore faith in the Secretary of State’s office. Griffin-Valade will be sworn in on Friday and will serve the remaining 18 months of Fagan’s term. As the state’s senior elections official, she will oversee the 2024 presidential race, which could test the state’s elections infrastructure. It will be up to Griffin-Valade whether she chooses to seek election to the office in 2024. The appointment comes after Fagan’s swift implosion in the role, following her acceptance of a private consulting job with an Oregon cannabis company while her office was formulating an audit on state cannabis regulations. The Oregon Department of Justice is conducting an investigation into the audit, and federal authorities have launched an inquiry into Fagan and the owners of the cannabis chain she worked for. Griffin-Valade, who was raised in Oregon, has a background in government auditing and has served as both the Multnomah County Auditor and the Portland City Auditor. She left the role in 2014 to pursue a master of fine arts degree and has since written a series of crime novels. This appointment is seen as an opportunity to restore confidence in the Secretary of State’s office.

How does Governor Tina Kotek believe that Griffin-Valade’s appointment will help restore faith in the Secretary of State’s office and rebuild trust amongst the public

Governor Tina Kotek surprised many political observers by announcing the appointment of LaVonne Griffin-Valade as the new secretary of state for Oregon. Griffin-Valade, who left government service in 2014 to pursue writing, will be replacing Shemia Fagan, who resigned in May amid pressure. Kotek expressed confidence in Griffin-Valade’s professional background and ethical judgment, stating that she is equipped to lead the agency and restore faith in the Secretary of State’s office. Griffin-Valade will be sworn in on Friday and will serve the remaining 18 months of Fagan’s term.

As the state’s senior elections official, Griffin-Valade will be responsible for overseeing the 2024 presidential race, a crucial test for the state’s elections infrastructure. It will be her decision whether she chooses to seek election to the office in 2024.

This appointment follows Fagan’s downfall, sparked by her acceptance of a private consulting job with an Oregon cannabis company while her office was conducting an audit on state cannabis regulations. The controversy surrounding the audit has led to an investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice, while federal authorities are also looking into Fagan and the owners of the cannabis chain she worked for.

Griffin-Valade, a native Oregonian, has a background in government auditing and held roles as the Multnomah County Auditor and the Portland City Auditor. After leaving her government position, she pursued a master of fine arts degree and ventured into crime novel writing. Her appointment is seen as an opportunity to rebuild trust in the Secretary of State’s office.