XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, or.politics, sac.politics
XPost: talk.politics.guns
From: construction@iowa.us

On 16 Nov 2021, Harry Bignall  posted some
news:sn19l1$q5b$39@news.dns-netz.com:

> Ubiquitous wrote
>
>> Oregon has a Democrat problem.

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced her
resignation Tuesday amid sharp criticism from both Republicans and
Democrats for having moonlighted as a highly-paid consultant to a
marijuana business.

Fagan, a Democrat, apologized on Monday for working for the marijuana
company, but she indicated that she intended to serve out the remaining 20
months of her term. Making matters worse: Fagan worked for two months as a
paid consultant for the marijuana business, which has a sketchy financial
record, while her office was wrapping up an audit of the Oregon Liquor and
Cannabis Commission.

Fagan’s consulting job, first reported on April 27 by Willamette Week,
paid $10,000 per month, with bonuses three times that amount if she helped
the company get licensed in other states. The secretary of state’s salary
is $77,000 annually — established almost a decade ago.

In a virtual press conference Monday, Fagan apologized for taking the
outside job and attributed it to “poor judgment.” She told reporters that
she quit the moonlighting job. On Tuesday, she bowed to pressure to leave
her elected office too.

“It is clear that my actions have become a distraction from the important
and critical work of the Secretary of State’s office,” Fagan said.

Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek will appoint a successor to Fagan, whose last
day is next Monday. No Oregon secretary of state has completed their four-
year term for a decade, due to the resignation of a governor who was
replaced by a secretary of state and a death in office from cancer of
another secretary of state.

Despite its low salary, it is an important job, tasked with overseeing
elections and audits of state entities.

The audit released Friday called for Oregon’s marijuana regulatory agency
to “reform” some rules for marijuana businesses, saying they’re “burdens,”
combined with federal restrictions. Fagan was absent during a Zoom news
conference timed with the audit’s release.

Her spokesman told that news conference that Fagan had recused herself
from the audit, but it was too much for politicians across the political
spectrum to swallow. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp and House
Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson immediately called for her to
resign. On Tuesday, Kotek said she supported Fagan’s decision.

“It is essential that Oregonians have trust in their government. I believe
this is a first step in restoring that trust,” Kotek said.



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