Cheryl Myers

Cheryl Myers is an American politician serving as the acting Secretary of State of Oregon. A member of the Democratic Party, Myers ran for the Oregon House of Representatives in 2010 but was defeated by Republican Patrick Sheehan.[1][2]

Cheryl Myers
Secretary of State of Oregon
Acting
Assumed office
May 8, 2023
GovernorTina Kotek
Preceded byShemia Fagan
Personal details
BornSouth Korea
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and education

Myers was born in Korea and raised in Southeast Portland, after being adopted by a working-class Oregon family.[3] She graduated from Marshall High School.[4]

Career

Myers began her career in public service as a member of the school board of the North Clackamas School District. She was appointed in 2005 and served until 2013, eventually becoming the school board chair. She later served on several other boards, including the Center for Women's Leadership, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, Campus Compact, and Metropolitan Family Services.[5][6] Since 2018, Myers has served on the board of directors of Holt International Children's Services, the organization that facilitated her own adoption process.[7]

In 2010, Democrat Brent Barton declined to run for reelection in the 51st district of the Oregon House of Representatives in order to run for the Oregon Senate. Myers ran uncontested for the Democratic nomination but lost to Republican Patrick Sheehan in the general election, receiving 10,330 votes compared to Sheehan's 12,409.[2] Sheehan lost reelection in 2012 to Democrat Shemia Fagan, Myers's future boss.[8]

In 2011, Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Myers to work in the governor's office as an advocate for minority, women and emerging small business.[9] She later served as Oregon's Director of Economic and Business Equity.[5]

In December 2020, then Secretary-elect Shemia Fagan announced that she would appoint Myers as the Deputy Secretary of State. She was the first Asian American or Pacific Islander to serve in the position.[3]

On May 8, 2023, Myers assumed the role of acting Secretary of State following Secretary Fagan's resignation, prompted by concerns about her moonlighting as a consultant for a cannabis dispensary chain.[10][11] As Oregon's chief elections officer, Myers will preside over the May 16th local elections in Oregon, after which Governor Tina Kotek is expected to announce her plan to appoint a new Secretary of State.[12]

Electoral History

2010
Oregon State House's 51st District Democratic Primary Election, 2010 [13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cheryl Myers 3,354 98.07%
Misc. 66 1.93%
Total votes 3,420 100%
Oregon's State House 51st District Election, 2010 [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patrick Sheehan 12,409 54.47% N/A
Democratic Cheryl Myers 10,330 45.34% N/A
Misc. 42 0.18%
Total votes 22,781 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

References
  1. "2010 Primary Election Official Results". records.sos.state.or.us. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  2. "2010 General Election Official Results". Oregon Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. p. 20.
  3. McCann, Tim (December 14, 2020). "Secretary of State-Elect Shemia Fagan Announces Two Key Hires". Democratic Party of Oregon. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  4. "Candidate Information--Cheryl Myers". secure.sos.state.or.us. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  5. "Cheryl Myers". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  6. Klein, Elisa. "City of Portland Mayor; Cheryl Myers Archives". Portland Society Page. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  7. Coordinator, Carmen Hinckley, Adult Adoptee Community Outreach (April 3, 2023). "Meet Holt Board Member Cheryl Myers". Holt International. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  8. "Official Results - November 6, 2012 General Election" (pdf). November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  9. Esteve, Harry (January 7, 2011). "Kitzhaber names chief of staff, other aides". oregonlive. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  10. "Shemia Fagan resigns as Oregon secretary of state following cannabis consulting scandal". opb. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  11. "Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers to Continue SOS Agency Oversight During Transition". www.oregon.gov. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  12. "Governor Tina Kotek Issues Statement on Secretary of State Appointment Timeline". www.oregon.gov. May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  13. "2010 Primary Election Official Results". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. p. 45. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  14. "2010 General Election Official Results". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
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