Jeanne Atkins

Jeanne Atkins
25th Secretary of State of Oregon
Assumed office
March 11, 2015
Governor Kate Brown
Preceded by Robert Taylor (Acting)
Succeeded by Dennis Richardson (Elect)
Personal details
Born 1949/1950 (age 66–67)
Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) John
Alma mater University of Washington,
Seattle (BA)
University of Oregon (JD)

Jeanne Paquette Atkins (born 1949 – 1950) is an American politician. She is the Secretary of State of Oregon, having been appointed on March 6, 2015, by Governor Kate Brown following Brown's ascension to the state's highest office.[1][2] Atkins is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Although the secretary of state is first in line to the governorship under the Oregon Constitution, because Atkins was appointed rather than elected, she is not part of the line of succession and therefore Treasurer Ted Wheeler is currently first in line to succeed the governor.[3]

Earlier career

Atkins ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives twice, in 1992 and 1994. From 1998 until 2004, she was a division director for reproductive and women's health for the Oregon Department of Human Services. Atkins also worked as staff director for Democrats in the Oregon Senate from 1993 to 1994. Between 2004 and 2009, she served as Chief of Staff for the Oregon House Democratic Caucus, then-House Speaker Jeff Merkley, and then-House Speaker Dave Hunt. In the private and nonprofit sector, she has worked for Planned Parenthood, the United Way of America, and the Women's Equity Action League.[4]

On August 24, 2009 Atkins was appointed as United States Senator Jeff Merkley's State Director, stating “I’m thrilled that Jeanne has agreed lead my Oregon staff as my new State Director and bring her superb team management abilities to this post." She assumed the office on October 5, 2009.[2][5] She retired from the post in January 2015.[6] Upon her appointment as Secretary of State, Merkley stated, “Governor Brown couldn’t have picked a more dedicated and experienced public servant to become our next Secretary of State. Jeanne Atkins is a true Oregon gem and supremely qualified. I’ve personally witnessed her strong leadership in her roles as my Chief of Staff, when I served as Speaker of the Oregon House, and as Oregon State Director of my Senate team. I know she will do a wonderful job as Oregon’s Secretary of State.”[7]

Oregon Secretary of State

Atkins was reportedly one of the first people Kate Brown considered for the position of secretary of state after Brown became governor in February 2015. She said after her appointment that she does not plan to run for a full term in 2016.[1]

Atkins was appointed on March 6, 2015 and formally sworn in on March 11, 2015 at 1:00 PM.[8][9]

Atkins determined that the Independent Party of Oregon had enough voters to qualify for public financing for the party's primary election in 2016.[10]

Personal life

Atkins resides in Portland. She is married to John Atkins.[2] She is originally from Bremerton, Washington.[11][12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mapes, Jeff (March 6, 2015). "Kate Brown appoints veteran government aide Jeanne Atkins to be secretary of state". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Wong, Peter (March 6, 2015). "Jeanne Atkins appointed Oregon secretary of state". East Oregonian. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ Lehman, Chris (March 6, 2015). "Jeanne Atkins Named Oregon's Next Secretary Of State". KUOW. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ Hoffman, Hannah (March 6, 2015). "Gov. Kate Brown appoints Jeanne Atkins as Secretary of State". Statesman Journal. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Press Release Merkley announces new state director". Office of Senator Jeff Merkley. August 24, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ Mapes, Jeff (March 6, 2015). "Kate Brown finds a caretaker by appointing Jeanne Atkins as Oregon secretary of state". OregonLive. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Merkley Statement on Jeanne Atkins Appointment to Oregon's Secretary of State". Office of Senator Jeff Merkley. March 6, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Kullgren, Ian (March 11, 2015). "Jeanne Atkins sworn in as Oregon Secretary of State". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  9. ↑ Hoffman, Hannah (March 6, 2015). "Jeanne Atkins picked as Oregon secretary of state". KGW News. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ Anderson, Taylor W. (July 26, 2015). "New Oregon Sec. of State steps into spotlight – Jeanne Atkins takes reins to steer landmark legislation into reality". The Bend Bulletin. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Anne Elizabeth McDougald Paquette". The Oregonian. July 7, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Anniversary: Paquette 70 Years". Kitsap Sun. July 4, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by
Robert Taylor
Acting		 Secretary of State of Oregon
2015–present 		Succeeded by
Dennis Richardson
Elect
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