Cranston Ward 1 City Councilor Lammis J. Vargas was named the next Rhode Island Deputy Secretary of State\ Director of Administration on Monday. 

"I am thrilled to welcome Lammis to our team,"said Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea in a press release. "She brings over a decade of experience in administrative management and public service. I'm confident she will build on the momentum within each of the divisions at the Department of State and help move Rhode Island forward by making government work for everyone."

In her role Vargas will be responsible for leading the Department of State's administrative functions including the divisions of Business Services, Elections, Personnel and Finance, Public Information, the State Archives, and the State Library.

“Working for the Secretary of State, Nellie M. Gorbea is a professional and exciting opportunity for me that I couldn’t refuse, and of course an honor not only as a woman but as a Latina,” said Vargas. “ In this role, I will be transferring my skills and experience to make Rhode Island’s government accessible to everyone.”

Vargas previously worked for the Rhode Island Treasury, where she served for nearly seven years as the Director of Unclaimed Property, and most recently as a Deputy Treasurer while continuing her oversight of Unclaimed Property. Vargas was responsible for the overhaul of the Unclaimed Property Division and the improvement of its services to Rhode Islanders. Under her leadership the team returned millions of dollars to over 100,000 people during her tenure, bringing national recognition to the Treasury and specifically the Unclaimed Property Division, a press release stated. 

 “I look forward to working with the staff to carry out Secretary Gorbea’s mission to engage and empower all Rhode Islanders by making government more accessible and transparent, encouraging civic pride, enhancing commerce and ensuring that elections are fair, fast and accurate,” said Vargas. 

Despite being in a new role for her day job, Vargas said she is committed to her role on the City Council as well. 

“My commitment as Ward 1 Councilwoman will remain,” said Vargas. “These are two completely separate and distinct roles that I respect deeply and remain excited to serve the great community of Cranston and of course, Rhode Island.”

Vargas is taking over for outgoing Deputy Secretary of State/Director of Administration Melissa Husband, who has served in the role since 2017 and is leaving to return to the nonprofit sector.

"I want to thank Melissa Husband for her outstanding service as my Deputy Secretary for the last several years," said Gorbea. "Melissa's leadership helped transform the delivery of services to Rhode Islanders, especially for small businesses across the state. I know she will bring the same commitment of public service to her new role, and Rhode Islanders will continue to benefit from her expertise."

Vargas begins with the Secretary of State Office on Dec. 20.