(Washington, D.C.)  Republican Secretaries of State from across the country elected Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson chairman of their national association while attending the annual winter meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).  The Republican Association of Secretaries of State (RASS) currently includes 26 members from across the country. Grayson was elected to a two-year term that will conclude in February of 2007.

“I am honored that my colleagues support my vision for our organization,” stated Secretary Grayson.  “Secretaries have many initiatives and reforms to consider in the next few years, and I look forward to providing a leading voice for my fellow Republicans.”

The RASS exists to share ideas, concepts, policies, legislation, administrative acts, or practices of Republican Secretaries of State and Lt. Governors or other state officials who act as Secretaries of State, in their respective states, which reflect the broader principles of Republican philosophy either within their own states, or of the Republican National Committee (RNC), or of a sitting Republican President of the United States.

The Association acts in good faith and with due diligence to ensure that NASS remains impartial, objective, and nonpartisan in its goals and philosophy.  It suggests and proposes programs and policies for consideration of the general NASS membership which may originate from RASS discussions and debates but which advance sound public policy benefiting the public in the various states without regard to partisan politics.

“While we are an organization of Republican Secretaries of State, we firmly believe that elections should be administered in an impartial and objective manner,” said Grayson.

As Chairman, Secretary Grayson will help facilitate communications and cooperation among its members within NASS, local and state party organizations, the RNC, the Republican Governors Association, Republicans in the U.S. Congress, and Republicans in the Federal Executive branch.

Grayson noted that his goals for RASS will mirror those goals he set for his office in Kentucky.  He hopes to see more accessible and corruption-free elections across the country while recognizing and preserving the important role that states play in the election process. He also wants to place a high emphasis on making offices more accessible for business transactions through electronic initiatives and the World Wide Web. 
 
Secretary Grayson’s profile has increased nationally with a variety of recent appointments. At the 2004 NASS summer conference, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the NASS standing committee on voter participation by NASS president Hon. Rebecca Vigil-Giron (D-NM). 

He became the first Secretary of State in the country, along with Secretary Matt Brown (D-Rhode Island), to serve on the advisory board for Just Democracy, Inc., a non-partisan, non-profit organization established to support fair and honest voting by utilizing the skills and resources of law students on Election Day.  In June, he was one of 40 state leaders from across the country selected to participate in the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by The Council of State Governments. 

“Secretary Grayson will represent our colleagues well,” said Secretary of State Todd Rokita.  “His excitement, vision, and fresh approaches will bring an added dimension to RASS initiatives.  I look forward to working with him during his term of office.”

Secretary Grayson, at 32 years old, is the youngest Secretary of State in the country and was only 31 when he assumed office.  He has been recognized by the Kentucky Press Association and the Shakertown Roundtable as one of 41 “Kentucky Leaders for a New Century.”  He was also recently named a “Rising Star” in the Republican Party by United Leaders, a nonpartisan, nonprofit action tank based at the renowned Harvard University Institute of Politics (IOP) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In November, he was named as a member of the Senior Advisory Committee to the IOP serving alongside Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), Governor Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico), and Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska).

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