Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce

Oklahoma Secretary of
Commerce

Great Seal of Oklahoma
Agency overview
Formed June 6, 1986
Headquarters 900 N Stiles Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Minister responsible
Child agencies
Website Office of the Secretary of Commerce

The Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on economic development and trade promotion.

The current Secretary is Larry Parman, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin in 2013.

History

The Secretary of Commerce was established in 1986 to provide greater oversight and coordination to the State government's economic development activities. The position was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986. The Act directed the Secretary to advise the Governor on economic development policy and advise the state's economic development agencies on new policy as directed by the Governor.

The position of Secretary of Commerce was disestablished in 2003 when Governor Brad Henry issued an executive order merging the position with that of Secretary of Tourism into a single position of Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. His successor, Mary Fallin, continued the position until 2013 when she issued an executive order splitting the position into its previous two positions.

Dual Position

Oklahoma state law always for Cabinet Secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a State agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet Secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Commerce has also served as the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. As of 2014, all Secretaries except Dave Lopez have served in this dual position. From 2012 to 2013, Secretary Lopez became the first when he resigned as Director but remained as Cabinet Secretary.[1]

Agencies overseen

The Secretary of Commerce oversees the following state entities:

Salary

The annual salary of the Secretary of Commerce is set by law at $70,000.[2] Despite this law, if the Secretary serves as the head of a state agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries. Since incumbent Cabinet Secretary Larry Parman also serves as the Director of the Commerce Department, he received the salary allowed for that position. As of 2014, the annual salary of that position is set at $112,500.

List of Secretaries

Secretary of Commerce (1986–2003)

Name Took Office Left Office Governor served under
Dean Werries 1995 1997 Frank Keating
Ron Rosenfeld 1997 1998
Howard Barnett, Jr. 1998 1999
Russell M. Perry 2000 2001
Vacant 2001 2003

Secretary of Commerce and Tourism (2003–2013)

Name Took Office Left Office Governor served under
Kathy Taylor 2003 2006 Brad Henry
Natalie Shirley February 14, 2007 January 10, 2011
Dave Lopez January 27, 2011 November 1, 2013 Mary Fallin

Secretary of Commerce (2013-present)

Name Took Office Left Office Governor served under
Larry Parman November 1, 2013 Present Mary Fallin

References

  1. ↑ Lopez Steps Down as State Commerce Department Head, The Daily Oklahoman, November 2, 2012
  2. ↑ Paragraph 3, Section 10.5, Title 74, Oklahoma Statutes
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