Shemia Fagan
28th Secretary of State of Oregon
In office
January 4, 2021 – May 8, 2023
GovernorKate Brown
Tina Kotek
Preceded byBev Clarno
Succeeded byCheryl Myers (acting)
Member of the Oregon Senate
from the 24th district
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 4, 2021
Preceded byRod Monroe
Succeeded byKayse Jama
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 51st district
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017
Preceded byPatrick Sheehan
Succeeded byJanelle Bynum
Personal details
Born (1981-09-20) September 20, 1981
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationNorthwest Nazarene University (BA)
Lewis and Clark College (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Shemia Patricia Fagan[1] (born September 20, 1981)[2] is an American lawyer and politician who served as the Oregon secretary of state from 2021 to 2023. She previously served as a Democratic member of the Oregon Senate, representing Senate District 24 from in 2019 to 2021. She also represented House District 51 from 2013 to 2017.[3] In 2020, Fagan was elected as Oregon Secretary of State.

In May 2023, Fagan resigned from office after revelations that she took a consulting job at a cannabis company while her office was auditing Oregon's marijuana industry, which many considered to be a conflict of interest.[4]

Early life and education

Fagan was born in Portland, Oregon, and was raised in Dufur, Oregon, and The Dalles, Oregon by her father, with her two older brothers.[5] She attended Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, on a soccer scholarship, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion in 2003.[6] She then started law school at Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon, before earning her Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2009.[6]

Career

Early career

After graduating from law school, Fagan became an associate at the Ater Wynne law firm in Portland, Oregon. She was an employment law attorney with HKM Employment Attorneys.[7]

In 2011, Fagan was elected to the David Douglas School Board in eastern Portland, serving for three years before running for 51st District of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Oregon Legislature

During her time within the State House, she served as the chair of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Government Effectiveness. Fagan was elected to the 24th District of the Oregon State Senate during the 2018 elections; she chaired the Committee on Housing and Development and served on the Committee On Healthcare.[8]

Secretary of State

In 2020, Fagan secured the Democratic nomination for Oregon Secretary of State in a close three-way race,[9] and went on to defeat Republican Kim Thatcher in the general election.[10] As Secretary of State, Fagan focused on expanding voter access, exposing inequalities through the Audits Devision, and increasing public engagement with the office of the Secretary of State.[11][12] Fagan successfully advocated for a "People's Commission" on redistricting following the 2020 Census.[13]

Ethics investigation and resignation

On April 27, 2023, Willamette Week reported Fagan had been working as a private consultant for the owners of La Mota, a cannabis dispensary chain operating in Oregon, while the Audits Division, which reports to Fagan as Secretary of State, worked on an audit of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Fagan's office released a statement clarifying she had recused herself from the audit before the consulting contract began.[14] La Mota was found to have given campaign contributions to Fagan and other state Democratic lawmakers. [15] Republican leaders of the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate released a joint statement calling on Secretary Fagan to resign.[16]

Governor Tina Kotek subsequently called for an ethics investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission into Fagan's actions, along with an investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice into the audit.[17] On May 1, Fagan announced she had terminated the consulting contract, which paid $10,000 a month.[18] The next day, Fagan announced her resignation effective May 8, due to the investigations.[19]

On August 25, 2023, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission launched an investigation into Fagan in regards to potential personal uses of state funds and campaign finances. Additionally, there are reports of Fagan reimbursing herself from both the state and campaign funds, a violation of Oregon law.[20]

Political positions

Abortion

Fagan supports abortion rights. In 2023, on the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Fagan released a statement saying she believes that, "The right to control your own body and future is fundamental to our freedom in America."[21]

Economy and labor

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, including Oregon, Fagan voted to authorize unemployment benefits for employees working less than full time.[22] Fagan also supported a bill in 2019 that would establish 12 weeks of paid medical leave for workers.[22] During the same year, Fagan supported HB 2016, which provided additional privileges to labor unions in bolstering worker participation.[22]

Environment

During her time within the Oregon House, Fagan was supportive of several key environmental bills, receiving a 100% rating from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV). She supported SB 1547 Coal Transition and Clean Electricity Plan which set goals for Oregon to go coal-free by 2030.[23] In 2020, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters endorsed Fagan during the Secretary of State race.[24]

Health care

In 2019, Fagan supported HB 3076, which established standards for non-profit hospitals in Oregon, demanding non-profit hospitals to adjust patients' costs on the basis of federal poverty guidelines and prohibiting non-profit hospitals from charging interest on medical debt.[22]

Housing

As Secretary of State, Fagan directed the Audits Division to conduct the first ever audit of Oregon's mortgage interest deduction since its inception in 1923. The audit found that the $1.1 billion housing subsidy "mostly benefits wealthy, white homeowners in the urban counties." In response to the audit, Fagan called the mortgage interest deduction "indefensible."[25]

Electoral history

2012

Oregon's State House 51st District Democratic Primary Election, 2012[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shemia Fagan 2,765 98.18%
Misc. 51 1.81%
Total votes 2,816 100%
Oregon's State House 51st District Election, 2012[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shemia Fagan 12,584 52.8% N/A
Republican Patrick Sheehan (Incumbent) 11,199 47.2% N/A
Total votes 23,783 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

2014

Oregon's State House 51st District Election, 2014[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shemia Fagan (Incumbent) 10,518 52.4% N/A
Republican Jodi Bailey 9,450 47.1% N/A
Total votes 20,064 100.0%
Democratic hold

2018

Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 24
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shemia Fagan 6,628 62.0% N/A
Democratic Rod Monroe (incumbent) 2,151 20.1% N/A
Democratic Kayse Jama 1,906 17.8% N/A
Total votes 10,685 100.0%
General election for Oregon State Senate District 24
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shemia Fagan 30,887 95.1% N/A
Write-in 1,606 4.9% N/A
Total votes 32,493 100.0%
Democratic hold

2020

Democratic primary results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shemia Fagan 209,682 36.23%
Democratic Mark Hass 205,230 35.46%
Democratic Jamie McLeod-Skinner 159,430 27.55%
Democratic Write-ins 4,395 0.76%
Total votes 578,737 100.0%
2020 Oregon Secretary of State election[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shemia Fagan 1,146,370 50.31% +6.84%
Republican Kim Thatcher 984,597 43.21% -3.85%
Pacific Green Nathalie Paravicini 82,211 3.61% +1.06%
Libertarian Kyle Markley 62,985 2.77% +0.29%
Write-in 2,340 0.10% -0.09%
Total votes 2,278,503 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to the Oregon State Bar Online". www.osbar.org. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Shemia Fagan's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Representative Shemia Fagan". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Borrud, Hillary (May 2, 2023). "Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan resigns". oregonlive. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Secretary of State Shemia Fagan". State of Oregon: Blue Book. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Meet the Secretary". State of Oregon: Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Lawyer Shemia Fagan". HKM Attorneys. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Shemia Fagan". Senator Shemia Fagan. Oregon State Legislature. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Shemia Fagan wins Democratic primary for Oregon secretary of state, Mark Hass finishes second: Election results". Salem, Oregon: The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  10. ↑ Borrud, Hillary (November 4, 2020). "Oregon secretary of state's race: Shemia Fagan defeats Kim Thatcher". oregonlive. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Secretary of State Shemia Fagan Celebrates First 100 Days in Office". oregon.gov. April 14, 2021. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ Richards, Karen (March 14, 2023). "Report shows pay gaps narrowing for state of Oregon employees, but there's still work to do". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Secretary of State Shemia Fagan Announces People's Commission on Legislative Redistricting". oregon.gov. August 5, 2021. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ Peel, Sophie (April 27, 2023). "Secretary of State Shemia Fagan Is Working as Private Consultant to Troubled Cannabis Couple". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Kotek Will Give la Mota Political Contributions to Food Bank; Tobias Read, to PCC Foundation". April 29, 2023. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ Peel, Sophie (April 28, 2023). "Top Republican Leaders Say Fagan Must Resign Over Moonlighting Gig for Cannabis Company". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ VanderHart, Dirk (April 28, 2023). "Kotek demands ethics investigation following Shemia Fagan revelations; Fagan says she welcomes the inquiries". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ Theen, Andrew; VanderHart, Dirk (May 1, 2023). "Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan cancels lucrative consulting contract, apologizes for harming public trust". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  19. ↑ VanderHart, Dirk; Dake, Lauren (May 2, 2023). "Shemia Fagan resigns as Oregon secretary of state following cannabis consulting scandal". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  20. ↑ Oregonian/OregonLive, Aimee Green | The (August 28, 2023). "Ethics commission investigates Shemia Fagan's spending on hotels, plane trips, rental cars". oregonlive. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ "A Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Decision". oregon.gov. January 22, 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Rep. Shemia Fagan | 2019 OLCV Environmental Scorecard". scorecard.olcv.org. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Shemia Fagan". GiveGreen. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Oregon's Largest Housing Subsidy — The $1.1 Billion Mortgage Interest Deduction — Mostly Benefits Wealthy, White Homeowners in the Urban Counties". oregon.gov. March 16, 2022. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ "May 15, 2012, Primary Election Abstracts of Votes". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. p. 21. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  27. 1 2 "November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. p. 20. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  28. ↑ "May 19, 2020, Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. May 19, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  29. ↑ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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