Secretary of State Bev Clarno Appoints Cameron Smith as Chief of Staff
Secretary of State Bev Clarno has selected Cameron Smith to serve as her Chief of Staff. Smith has previously served as Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and as Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. He left state government in 2019, when he filed to run for Secretary of State, but withdrew his candidacy before the March 10 filing deadline. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Smith served three tours of duty in Iraq and attained the rank of captain. Military service runs in Smith's family: his great-grandfather was Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, a major figure in the naval history of World War II. A graduate of Carleton College in Minnesota, Smith lives in Southeast Portland with his wife and two young children.
"I am delighted that Cameron Smith has agreed to serve in the Secretary of State's office" said Clarno. "During his time in state government, he earned a reputation for intelligence, integrity, and effectiveness. In these times of extreme partisanship, the fact that a Republican is appointing a Democrat to serve as her Chief of Staff may surprise some, but it reinforces my belief that the duties of the Secretary of State's office—overseeing fair and secure elections, conducting thorough audits of state government agencies, helping Oregon's small businesses, and maintaining Oregon’s important records—are duties that should not and must not be considered as partisan. Cameron's experience and knowledge of state government will be very helpful as my office works through the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic to provide the best service possible to all Oregonians."
Smith said, "I am honored that Secretary of State Clarno has asked me to return to government service. I have long admired her trailblazing career dedicated to fiscal responsibility and all Oregonians. I also appreciate her commitment to bipartisanship—I learned in the Marine Corps that you don't care what party the individual is next to you, you just care that they do their job and they are part of the team.”
Smith will join the office on March 30, 2020.
CONTACT: Andrea Chiapella | 503-986-2259 | andrea.chiapella@oregon.gov
