Cheryl Myers (she/her)
Deputy Secretary
Tribal Liaison
Ms. Myers' professional background includes public policy, organizational leadership, economic development, public education/youth advocacy, and a history of assisting organizations to construct equitable cultures and embed collaborative practices. Her prior public service roles include Director of Economic & Business Equity in the Governor’s Office, Chief of Staff for the Higher Education Commission and as Operations & Engagement Director for Educator Advancement in the Chief Education Office and 8 years as an elected school board member. Her longstanding private sector business ownership lends insight into the varying aspects of unique business needs. She is the second person of color and the first person from the Asian American community to serve as Oregon’s Deputy Secretary of State. Myers began life as an orphan in Korea before she was adopted by an Oregon family and raised in a SE Portland working-class family. She is deeply committed to community with service on local and national boards. She enjoys their floating home life with family and puppy, sharing meals with friends, paddle boarding, boating and riding her Harley.
Email:
cheryl.l.myers@sos.oregon.gov
Chief of Staff
Emily is Chief of Staff for Secretary Fagan. A native of Forest Grove Oregon, Emily’s professional experience is in government relations, public affairs, voter registration, and candidate and ballot measure campaigns. Throughout Emily’s career she has served as an advocate in Oregon, where she has worked on behalf of organizations and causes she is passionate about including, Planned Parenthood, Oregon Education Association, Oregon Student Association and Basic Rights Oregon.
She joins the Secretary of State’s office after nearly 3 years as Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon’s where she served previously in Government Relations successfully passing landmark legislation to expand access to birth control and to protect patient privacy. In 2015 Emily was proud to serve as the lead lobbyist for Governor Brown’s priority legislation, the New Motor Voter law for the coalition who worked hard to craft, envision and pass that ground breaking first in the nation voter access legislation. As Executive Director of Oregon Student Association, Emily led the largest nonpartisan voter registration drive in state history, registering 50,000 voters in 2012 throughout the state. Emily has always been passionate about ensuring every Oregonian’s voice is heard in the issues that impact them.
Emily has a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Oregon where she was elected Student Body President. She lives in Portland with her husband, and their adorable and adored dog Ruthie. When she is not working, Emily loves traveling, reading two books at once, eating and exploring new restaurants and food carts, planning parties and adventures, and spending time outdoors with her dear friends and family.
Email:
emily.mclain@sos.oregon.gov
Communications Director
Ben is the Communications Director for Oregon's Secretary of State. He serves as the primary point of contact for the media, in addition to helping the agency effectively communicate with Oregonians about elections, government audits, and other functions of the Secretary of State’s office. Previously Ben served as the Communications Director for SEIU 503, Oregon’s largest labor union and has a background in political campaigns and advocacy.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in political science from James Madison University. He is a somewhat recent transplant to Oregon, having moved from Washington, D.C. to Portland in 2014 along with his partner and their dog Trix.
Email:
ben.morris@sos.oregon.gov
Executive Assistant/Scheduler to Secretary Fagan
Margurite acts as executive assistant and scheduler to Secretary Fagan, as well as to other members of Secretary Fagan’s executive team. In her free time, Margurite enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, trivia, and reading mystery novels.
Email:
margurite.weeks@sos.oregon.gov
Senior Advisor and Strategic Projects Director
Molly is the Senior Advisor and Strategic Projects Director for Oregon's Secretary of State. She serves as the Secretary’s Land Board Assistant and designee to the Public Records Advisory Council. Born and raised in the Northwest, Molly joined the Secretary of State's Office after three years as Deputy Director of the Democratic Party of Oregon. In 2015 and 2016, she served as the Communications Director for Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins, overseeing communications for implementation of the Oregon’s first-in-the-nation system of automatic voter registration, Oregon Motor Voter. Early in her career, Molly served as both Communications Director and Chief of Staff for the Oregon Senate Democrats and in the Government Relations Office at the City of Portland.
Molly earned her B.A. in Political Science and Communications at Portland State University, where she was elected Student Body Vice President and later pursued a M.A. in Political Science. A first generation American and college graduate, Molly cares deeply about the issues overseen by the Secretary of State, especially public participation and transparency in our democratic institutions.
Email:
molly.woon@sos.oregon.gov