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Jeanne Atkins will be sworn in as the new Oregon secretary of state on Wednesday, Gov. Kate Brown announced Friday.

(governor's office)

UPDATE: Jeanne Atkins said in a telephone call Friday afternoon that she does not plan to run for for the secretary of state's job in 2016 and would instead serve only until the start of 2017.

"I do not come to it thinking that I'm going to run for the office," said Atkins, adding that she made that clear to Brown and her aides when she was first approached about the job.

Gov. Kate Brown on Friday said she will appoint a veteran retired government and political aide, Jeanne Atkins, to replace Brown as secretary of state.

Brown bypassed several elected officials and picked someone with a lower profile who may not be interested in running next year for a full four-year term. Brown spokeswoman Kristen Grainger said "the decision is entirely up to" Atkins on whether she wants to run instead of serving solely as secretary of state through the end of Brown's term.

Brown's office said Atkins, 65, will be sworn in on Wednesday. Grainger said Atkins was someone that Brown "had been interested in the beginning" for appointment to the office.

Atkins had served as state director for Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., from 2009 before she recently retired, according to an announcement from Brown's office. Before that, she was chief of staff when Merkley was state House speaker.

She has also served in numerous other political governmental and nonprofit positions, including for United Way of the Columbia/Willamette, Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette, and the Women's Equity Action League in Washington, D.C.

Brown vacated the secretary of state's office to become governor last month following John Kitzhaber's resignation. Brown was re-elected secretary of state in 2012 and her current term runs out in just less than two years.

"Jeanne Atkins will serve Oregon with integrity, transparency and good sense," Governor Brown said in her announcement. "I am pleased to be able to appoint a successor with such impeccable professional credentials."

In the announcement, Atkins was quoted as saying:

"I share the values and enthusiasm for this position that Governor Kate Brown demonstrated during her tenure. I will be diligent in carrying out the responsibilities of the office of Oregon Secretary of State."

Several Democratic legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum and House Majority Leader Val Hoyle, have expressed interest in the job.

Merkley quickly issued a press release expressing his high regard for Atkins, calling her "a true Oregon gem and supremely qualified."

Democratic legislative leaders, including Hoyle, Rosenbaum, House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney, also issued press releases of praise.

"I worked closely with her in the House Democratic Office, the Speaker's office, and Senator Jeff Merkley's office," Rosenbaum said. "She is emminently qualified and I look forward to working with her."

However, Kara Walker, spokeswoman for the House Republican caucus referred to Atkins' past work for Planned Parenthood and said that Brown could not have "picked an individual with more partisan credentials than Ms. Atkins

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--Jeff Mapes

503-221-8209

@Jeffmapes