![]() “I don’t have a list,” Kotek said on Wednesday. Janelle Bynum, and current Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, among many others. Other names that have emerged are former Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, former Senate President Peter Courtney, state Rep. Treasurer Tobias Read has said he could be interested. Speculation has run rampant in Salem and beyond about who Kotek could tap for the position. So most of my conversations have been about: How do you handle that?” This is a crisis of confidence in the agency. “Let’s remember, this is an unprecedented situation,” Kotek said. Then in 2019, she replaced Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, a Republican who died while in office. While governor, Brown first had to pick a replacement for herself. And she noted that the circumstances of this appointment are different from those made by Brown, who ascended to the governor’s office from the secretary of state when Gov. Kotek said she’s asked past elected officials about what qualities she should look for in a new secretary. It still comes back to someone who can be a public-facing leader who will restore confidence in that agency.” “I took the last week or so just really trying to think about what kind of skills would be important for this job. “I don’t move forward until I understand where I’m trying to go,” she said. And she suggested she’s in no real hurry to name that person. Kotek said on Wednesday that all she’s concerned about is finding someone citizens trust. Others feel differently, including Democratic allies who’d rather have an incumbent running for secretary in 2024 than a new candidate who might be less familiar to voters. “This will be the most consequential election of modern history and any appointee must be solely focused on restoring Americans’ faith in our electoral system and not on their own election to the secretary’s office.” “I believe that Governor Kotek should follow the standard I set and appoint someone who will not put their personal political interests ahead of the administration of the 2024 Presidential Election,” Brown said in a statement earlier this month. Kate Brown – who had to appoint two new secretaries while in office – picked replacements who didn’t want the job long term. “There is no trust being restored when the SOS hits the ground running.to dial for dollars,” Julie Parrish, a consultant and former Republican state representative, tweeted on Wednesday. Some observers have insisted Kotek should choose a candidate who won’t run in 2024, particularly since that person will be tasked with running a hugely important presidential election. It’s now up to Kotek to choose another Democrat to take on an important job that oversees elections, manages audits of state agencies, registers businesses and more. The contract was furnished by Aaron Mitchell and Rosa Cazares, owners of the La Mota dispensary chain and significant political donors to Fagan, Kotek and other Democrats. Her stunning downfall followed revelations she’d accepted a lucrative cannabis consulting contract that seemed to conflict with her duties as secretary, including overseeing an audit of state cannabis regulations. Once seen as a rising star in the Democratic party, Fagan stepped down on May 9. Tina Kotek says she's in no hurry to appoint a new secretary of state, after Shemia Fagan resigned amid scandal. “That is my primary goal – not whether they want the job in the future.” “I want to make sure, whoever takes that job, that they understand that one of their primary goals is to restore confidence in the Secretary of State’s office,” Kotek said in a meeting with reporters.
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