- Oregon State Representative, 1989-1997.
- Speaker of the House, 1995-1997.
- Oregon State Senator, 2001-2003.
- Regional representative, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003-2005.
- Oregon Secretary of State, 2019-2021.
About Sec. Clarno
Born in the southern Oregon coastal town of Langlois, Bev Clarno grew up learning that family and hard work would see one through many hardships. Growing up on her family’s dairy farm and later running a hog farm with her brother-in-law, Clarno developed a desire to “go to the legislature and change things.”
During her first campaign, a male constituent suggested to her that she was “a nice lady but we don’t elect women over here.” Clarno merely redoubled her efforts to become the state representative for District 55. Learning the legislative ropes was made easier by two mentors, Ray Baum from LaGrande and Greg Walden from Hood River.
In 1995, Clarno was elected as the first female Republican Speaker of the House. The leadership role was difficult, but one that allowed her to manage the legislative process to produce fewer bills, less government and better government.
In 2000, Clarno returned to the legislature as the state senator for District 27, and again rose to a position of leadership. President George W. Bush tapped Bev Clarno as the Region 10 Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she put her legislative and business experience into practice across the Pacific Northwest.
Governor Kate Brown appointed Clarno as Oregon Secretary of State in 2019 to complete the term of Dennis Richardson. Clarno served until 2021.
You can help preserve history
When you donate to the Capitol Foundation or purchase Pacific Wonderland license plates for your car, you help create a living history of our Capitol and its history. Your support funds programs such as our oral history project. This program gives students, history buffs and our state’s future leaders an opportunity to learn about Oregon’s most important stories from the people who made it happen. Thank you!