Norma Jean Paulus (Petersen) (March 13, 1933 – February 28, 2019)

(Portland, Ore.) – Former Oregon Secretary of State Norma Paulus has
died.   

Close friend Kerry Tymchuk confirmed her death to local news media
Thursday afternoon.

Paulus’ death comes a day after the state’s current Secretary of State
Dennis Richardson died of brain cancer.

In addition to serving as secretary of state, Paulus was an Oregon
representative from 1970 to 1976 and Superintendent of Public
Instruction. She was appointed to that position by former Gov. Neil
Goldschmidt in 1990 and was elected to it in 1994.

A member of the Republican Party, she was the first woman to be
elected to statewide office. She was elected secretary of state in 1976
and re-elected in 1980. She ran for governor in 1986 but lost.