Oregon elections director - who previously worked for Clear Ballot - was fired just after the 2020 election. Why?


Oregon elections director out after penning a blistering memo
By Dirk VanderHart (OPB)
Nov. 9, 2020 12:37 p.m. Updated: Nov. 9, 2020 3 p.m.
Steve Trout says he was fired Thursday. Days earlier, he sharply criticized the secretary of state’s office for a “lack of vision and leadership.”
'''
'''Steve Trout, who was tapped for a second stint managing Oregon elections in 2017, served his last day on Friday, according to the secretary of state’s office. Trout’s former deputy, Michelle Teed, is serving as acting elections director, according to Andrea Chiapella, chief of staff for Secretary of State Bev Clarno.

“Steve gave us notice that he would be leaving the agency and in order to ensure a smooth transition, his last day was Friday,” Chiapella said Saturday evening. “We appreciate all of his great work as elections director and we are lucky to have had such a knowledgeable advocate for the democratic process on our team.”

Trout said Monday he was actually fired via text message last Thursday, after raising serious concerns about the office and informing Clarno he was seeking other work. He said he had committed to staying on with the secretary of state’s office until December 15, in order to complete duties associated with the election.

In this Nov. 3, 2020 file photo, election workers organize ballots at the Multnomah County Elections Division in Portland, Ore. Oregon's elections director was abruptly fired in a text message by the secretary of state after he pointed out serious issues with the state's aging and vulnerable technology for running elections.