OKLA. CITY —
Oklahoma Secretary of State Glenn Coffee announced Friday that he will be stepping down to pursue opportunities in the private sector. Coffee has had his current cabinet level position in Gov. Mary Fallin’s administration since January 2011. Prior to serving as secretary of state, Coffee was the president pro tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. Coffee will step down no later than Jan. 31.
“Serving the state of Oklahoma has been my dream since I was a small boy,” Coffee said. “Being able to serve on such a high level, first as Senate president pro tem and then as secretary of state, is truly a dream come true.”
“While I am sad to leave my post in the Fallin administration, I could not be happier with the course that Gov. Fallin has charted for the state of Oklahoma. For the last two years I have had the great privilege of helping the governor craft policies that will continue Oklahoma’s forward momentum and help to spur job creation for decades to come. My thanks go out to Gov. Fallin for giving me the opportunity to serve as secretary of state, and to all of the great men and women who worked with me during my years in public office.”
Fallin said Coffee brought a wealth of experience to the state Capitol.
“Glenn Coffee has been a fixture in Oklahoma politics for over a decade,” Fallin said. “As Senate pro tem, he helped to deliver the first ever Republican majority in the state Senate, setting the stage for unified conservative government. As secretary of state, Glenn continued his good work by helping to craft fiscally conservative budgets, landmark lawsuit reform and workers compensation legislation. His experience and wealth of knowledge will be sorely missed. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The office of the secretary of state serves as a registry of Oklahoma’s official documents, filing and certifying executive orders, appointments and proclamations as well as publishing new statutes. In addition to his official duties as the head of that agency, Coffee also served as Fallin’s lead negotiator on budget issues and issues related to Oklahoma water rights.
Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger will assume Coffee’s responsibilities as Fallin’s lead budget negotiator. The Fallin administration plans to retain Coffee as an outside consultant on water issues, although details of that arrangement have not yet been finalized.
Local News
Secretary of State Glenn Coffee stepping down
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Mark Neighbors, chairman of the Edmond Jazz and Blues Festival, said a final decision was made Thursday to postpone the festival until a later date this summer. -
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Wednesday, a press release from Lincoln County, along with Wellston Emergency Management Office and the City of Carney, stated that at this time the needs have changed for the city. -
Oklahoma National Guard coordinates tornado relief support
Oklahoma National Guard members, who work side-by-side with local responders to aid in recovery efforts during domestic operations such as the May 20 tornado that tore through Oklahoma City and Moore, are given their tasks through the Guard's Joint Operations Center.
The JOC, located in the Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is primarily responsible for the collection, dissemination and tracking of information to increase the situational awareness for leadership as well as the National Guard Bureau, said Lt. Col. Hiram Tabler, the director of military support for Oklahoma's Joint Force Headquarters. -
UPDATE: Businesses, groups offer free relief to tornado victims
Listed is information on free services offered to victims of the recent tornadoes.
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House approves $45M aid package for tornado victims
As rain poured this morning on disaster relief workers in the Moore and Oklahoma City areas, the Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously approved a $45 million aid package to provide relief to those impacted by Monday’s EF-5 tornado.
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TIMELAPSE: Take a tour through the damage in Moore
Take a driving tour of the damage in Moore caused by Monday's tornado.
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