Kemp Replaces Outgoing Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning as National Executive Board Officer

WASHINGTON, DC–-The National Association of Secretaries of State today installed Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp as Southern Region Vice President. Kemp replaces outgoing Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning, who stepped down from the position after announcing that he will be leaving office in February. As part of his new leadership role with the association, Kemp is responsible for organizing regional meetings for Secretaries of State who represent southern states and acting as liaison for the group. He will hold the NASS Executive Board position through July 2012.

"I am tremendously honored to accept the position of NASS Southern Region Vice President as my friend and colleague Kurt Browning transitions out of office," remarked Kemp. "Our work in Georgia complements many of the association's current efforts and those of other Secretaries of State, and I look forward to representing my counterparts throughout the South."

As a member of NASS, Kemp has been instrumental in the group's efforts to help Secretary of State offices combat business identity theft, serving as a member of the NASS Business Identity Theft Task Force and bringing a first-of-its-kind business identity theft forum to Atlanta in October 2011. He is also co-chair of the NASS Subcommittee on Presidential Primaries, which oversees election issues related to the presidential nominating process.

"Secretary Kemp will actively represent the interests of our southern state member offices, working hard to build new alliances and showcase the region's best state initiatives," said NASS President Beth Chapman of Alabama. "He has already made considerable contributions to NASS through his leadership of the Georgia Secretary of State's Office and his implementation of practical, e-government solutions in both the corporations and elections divisions."

With Kemp's addition, the NASS 2011-2012 Executive Board includes the following members:

President: Hon. Beth Chapman, Alabama
Immediate Past President: Hon. Mark Ritchie, Minnesota
President-Elect: Hon. Ross Miller, Nevada
Treasurer: Hon. Tre Hargett, Tennessee
Secretary: Hon. Linda McCulloch, Montana
Southern Region Vice President: Hon. Brian Kemp, Georgia
Eastern Region Vice President: Hon. Denise Merrill, Connecticut
Midwestern Region Vice President: Hon. John Gale, Nebraska
Western Region Vice President: Hon. Ken Bennett, Arizona
At Large - ACR Liaison: Hon. Kate Brown, Oregon
At Large - NPA Liaison: Hon. Mark Hammond, South Carolina

Founded in 1904, NASS is the oldest, nonpartisan professional organization of public officials in the U.S. Members include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa. NASS serves as a medium for the exchange of information between states and fosters cooperation in the development of public policy. The association has key initiatives in the areas of elections and voting, state business services and digital archiving, as well as several well-established awards programs.

For more on NASS, please visit www.nass.org.

###

Media contact: Kay Stimson 202.624.3528, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it