Craig Prins, appointed by Bourbon scandal, plans to leave OLCC this summer

The head of the Oregon's Commission, which monitors alcohol, and Marijuana plans to leave his position until July 1, he announced on Thursday.

Craig Prins was appointed Dractor of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission two years ago. Prins made the announcement during the meeting of the Commission on Thursday. His retirement was first reported by the Oregonian.

“This was obviously a difficult decision,” Prins told Commissioners on Thursday. “I am grateful for your trust and partnership in the past two years. I believe that this is the right decision at the right time. We have big milestones in modernizing the OLCC operations and the reconstruction of the trust of the public in our mission. After we had the honor of working with the committed public servants of the organization, I have complete confidence in your skills to advancement.”

Prins came to OLCC two years ago and replaced the former director Steve Marks, who left the agency after a state-owned ethics examination found that the Commission's top manager had used the power and the position to take care of expensive, highly requested bottles of Bourbon, which she either led or were given to other high-ranking state officials, including the lawyers.

This led to the resignation of several top managers within the OLCC.

Prins achieved a lot during his short term in the OLCC. He supervised the introduction of a new approval and license system, the modernization of the agency's computer programs, the distilled spirits and sales infrastructure monitored and the reason for Clackamas County rose on a new warehouse of 87.6 million US dollars.

“We designed the organization and not only brought the OLCC on a way to restore and expand the trust of the public, but also the trust that Oregonians can have in us.”

The deputy director of OLCC, Tara Wasiak, will act as a intermediate director from July.

Prins spent three decades in the public service before they came to OLCC. When he was appointed management of the Commission, Prins was a general inspector for the state department for corrections. At that time, governor Tina Kotek said that he was the right man to lead the agency through troubled times.

“Craig Prins brings the necessary experience in change management to correct the course of the Commission and support the employees who do work every day,” said Kotek in 2023.