Two of Stitt’s key cabinet members on virus resign

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Two of Stitt’s key cabinet members on virus resign

Wed, 07/01/2020 - 14:00
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s key cabinet members at the forefront of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic announced Monday they are stepping down to return to their fulltime jobs.

Stitt’s office announced in a press release that Secretary of Health and Mental Health Jerome Loughridge and Secretary of Science and Innovation Dr. Kayse Shrum both expressed an interest in returning to their careers. The two had been working as volunteers in Stitt’s cabinet.

Loughridge will be replaced by Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Kevin Corbett. Shrum’s replacement is Elizabeth Pollard, the executive chair of Applied Silver, a privately held company in Silicon Valley. She has been working as Oklahoma’s deputy secretary of science and innovation.

“We are fortunate to have the ability to promote talented people like Secretary Kevin Corbett and Secretary Elizabeth Pollard to ensure a seamless transition,” Stitt said in a statement.

Loughridge, a longtime energy industry executive, is the president of TMG Service Company, an Oklahoma City-based capital asset management company. Shrum is the president of the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.