Stitt announces changes within his Cabinet
Gov. Kevin Stitt continues to experience turnover within his Cabinet.
Stitt's office announced Monday the governor has appointed his chief policy adviser, Brian Bingman, to be secretary of state and Native American affairs.
Stitt hired Bingman i n August to advise on l egislative policy — a role the former state senator will continue in his new posit i o n . A me mbe r o f t h e Cre e k Nati o n , Bi n g man replaces former secretary of state Michael Rogers, who resigned last week.
“Senator Bingman i s a natural choice t o be our next Secretary of State,” Stitt said i n a statement. “It has been clear since he j oi ned our t e a m t hat he i s r espected by our colleagues in the Legislature a nd Okl a homans a c r o s s the state. His wisdom, calm demeanor and understanding of the legislative process will continue to benefit our state in his new role.”
Bi ngman was t he f i r s t Republican i n s t ate his - tory to serve three terms as president pro tempore of the Senate.
S t i t t ' s o f f i c e a l s o a n n o u n c e d B u d g e t Secretary Mike Mazzei will resign, effective Oct. 23. A certified financial planner, Mazzei said it's time for him to return his focus t o his f i nancial planning c ompany, Tuls a Wealth Advisors.
“I ' m i ncredibly gratef ul f or al l t he hard work and collaboration with the t e a m o f hi g hl y t a l e nt e d cabinet secretaries, budget staff, and agency f i nancial officers to transform the financial operations of the state and provide more accountability and transparency," Mazzei said in a statement.
A f o r me r R e p u b l i c a n state senator who led the Senate Finance Committee f o r most o f h i s 1 2 - y e a r legislative tenure, Mazzei was effectively cut out of state budget negotiations t his year after a conflict between Stitt's administration and legislative budget writers.
House Appropriati ons Chairman Kevin Wallace, R- Wellston, and Senate Appropriations Chairman R o g e r T h o m p s o n , R-Okemah, accused Mazzei of hanging up in the middle o f a c o nf e r e nce c a l l f o r budget negotiations. At the time, the legislative leaders accused Mazzei and Stitt, by extension, of walking out on budget negotiations.
Mazzei and Stitt rejected the notion that they walked o u t o f b u d g e t n e g o t i a - ti ons and chalked up the dropped phone c a l l t o a miscommunication.
Stitt appointed Mazzei to his Cabinet in 2019.