Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s Former Director Fined for Ethical Violations
Steve Marks, the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), has agreed to pay a $500 civil penalty to the state’s ethics commission for unethical conduct involving the coveted Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. Marks, who was appointed by former Governor John Kitzhaber, led the OLCC for nearly nine years and admitted to purchasing a bottle of the rare bourbon between 2019 and 2022 at its list price of $329.99.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission found that Marks had information that allowed him to access the bourbon from the agency’s reserve stock—designated for public purchase through a chance-to-purchase program. The commission determined that this access was not available to the public, granting Marks an unfair advantage. By acquiring the bourbon at a list price instead of market rates, which can soar to thousands of dollars online, he gained a personal financial benefit while failing to disclose a potential conflict of interest.
Marks’ case follows a series of similar investigations into OLCC executives, with six managers receiving reprimands after an internal probe revealed misuse of their positions for personal gain involving rare bourbon allocations. Although a criminal investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice concluded without charges due to insufficient evidence, ethics investigations are ongoing for other OLCC officials.
Marks contended he did not knowingly or intentionally violate ethics rules but accepted the settlement to resolve the issue. His agreement will be finalized at the commission’s upcoming meeting. The scrutiny surrounding the OLCC has resulted in significant managerial changes, highlighting the need for accountability within state agencies.
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