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   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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