Two staffers to leave Secretary of State’s office
By Bob Mercer
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, Nov 25, 2010 - 06:05:31 am CST
PIERRE — Two top members of Secretary of State Chris Nelson’s staff won’t be staying when his successor takes office in January.
Deputy secretary Teresa Bray and state elections supervisor Kea Warne said Wednesday they have informed Secretary of State-elect Jason Gant about their plans to leave.
Gant won the Republican nomination in a convention battle against Bray and state Rep. Tom Deadrick of Platte last summer. He won a three-way race in the general election Nov. 2.
Nelson, a Republican, couldn’t see a third consecutive term because of the limitation set in the South Dakota constitution.
“When I met with Secretary-elect Gant two weeks ago, I informed him that I would be moving on at the end of the year,” Bray said.
“It has truly been an honor to serve alongside Secretary Nelson as his deputy secretary of state. It is an experience that I will cherish always,” she said.
Warne has worked in the office for more than 17 years, including the past eight-plus years as elections supervisor, the position previously held by Nelson.
She said she was asked to stay under Gant but decided to resign effective Dec. 31. She submitted a resume to the transition office of Gov.-elect Dennis Daugaard.
During her time as election supervisor the office implemented the federal Help America Vote Act and federal reforms for overseas and military voters.
They also developed the statewide voter file, the Internet-based central election-result reporting system, the electronic voter registration cancellation program and driver license voter registration.
“I feel my career has reached its height at this office and I look forward to new challenges and new opportunities elsewhere,” Warne said in her resignation letter.
The next step for Nelson will be an appointment by Gov.-elect Daugaard to fill a vacancy on the state Public Utilities Commission when Dusty Johnson resigns to become chief of staff for the new governor on Jan. 8.
Johnson won re-election to a six-year term Nov. 2. Nelson’s appointment would cover the first two years. The remaining four years will be subject to election in 2012. Nelson plans to run.
Gant, a state senator from Sioux Falls, said he plans to reorganize the secretary of state office into three divisions — elections, business services and operations — and will name a director for each.
“I have not finalized who each of the directors will be at this time. My goal is to have the directors named very shortly,” he said.
Gant said he doesn’t plan to have a deputy. He said he intends to start work as secretary of state on Jan. 3, five days before most state elected officials take their oaths of office during the inauguration ceremonies in the Capitol rotunda.
“I want to hit the ground running and start preparing for the legislative session. I have a number of pieces of legislation that I need to have ready for when session starts, as well as taking a very hard look at the budget for the office in preparation for the (Legislature’s) appropriations committee,” Gant said.
The 2011 session of the Legislature opens Jan. 11 and is scheduled to conclude its run of 38 working days on March 28.
Deputy secretary Teresa Bray and state elections supervisor Kea Warne said Wednesday they have informed Secretary of State-elect Jason Gant about their plans to leave.
Gant won the Republican nomination in a convention battle against Bray and state Rep. Tom Deadrick of Platte last summer. He won a three-way race in the general election Nov. 2.
Nelson, a Republican, couldn’t see a third consecutive term because of the limitation set in the South Dakota constitution.
“When I met with Secretary-elect Gant two weeks ago, I informed him that I would be moving on at the end of the year,” Bray said.
“It has truly been an honor to serve alongside Secretary Nelson as his deputy secretary of state. It is an experience that I will cherish always,” she said.
Warne has worked in the office for more than 17 years, including the past eight-plus years as elections supervisor, the position previously held by Nelson.
She said she was asked to stay under Gant but decided to resign effective Dec. 31. She submitted a resume to the transition office of Gov.-elect Dennis Daugaard.
During her time as election supervisor the office implemented the federal Help America Vote Act and federal reforms for overseas and military voters.
They also developed the statewide voter file, the Internet-based central election-result reporting system, the electronic voter registration cancellation program and driver license voter registration.
“I feel my career has reached its height at this office and I look forward to new challenges and new opportunities elsewhere,” Warne said in her resignation letter.
The next step for Nelson will be an appointment by Gov.-elect Daugaard to fill a vacancy on the state Public Utilities Commission when Dusty Johnson resigns to become chief of staff for the new governor on Jan. 8.
Johnson won re-election to a six-year term Nov. 2. Nelson’s appointment would cover the first two years. The remaining four years will be subject to election in 2012. Nelson plans to run.
Gant, a state senator from Sioux Falls, said he plans to reorganize the secretary of state office into three divisions — elections, business services and operations — and will name a director for each.
“I have not finalized who each of the directors will be at this time. My goal is to have the directors named very shortly,” he said.
Gant said he doesn’t plan to have a deputy. He said he intends to start work as secretary of state on Jan. 3, five days before most state elected officials take their oaths of office during the inauguration ceremonies in the Capitol rotunda.
“I want to hit the ground running and start preparing for the legislative session. I have a number of pieces of legislation that I need to have ready for when session starts, as well as taking a very hard look at the budget for the office in preparation for the (Legislature’s) appropriations committee,” Gant said.
The 2011 session of the Legislature opens Jan. 11 and is scheduled to conclude its run of 38 working days on March 28.
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