Secretary of State Kemp Announces Elections Advisory Council Members and First Two Public Meetings

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today announced the members of the Secretary of State’s Elections Advisory Council and the locations, dates and times of the Council’s first two public meetings.

“I am excited to announce this outstanding group of election leaders who will join me in analyzing opportunities to improve our elections processes at all levels of government,” said Secretary Kemp. “I look forward to beginning our series of public meetings and hearing ideas from all Georgians.”

The Elections Advisory Council is comprised of 16 experienced election officials and leaders from across Georgia, including city and county officials, county election directors, representatives from Democratic, Independent, Libertarian and Republican backgrounds and members of the Georgia General Assembly.

•Secretary of State Brian Kemp
•State Senator Cecil Staton (R – Macon)
•State Senator Hardie Davis (D – Augusta)
•State Representative Mark Hamilton (R – Cumming)
•State Representative Rusty Kidd (I – Milledgeville)
•Anne Lewis, General Counsel, Georgia Republican Party
•Mike Jablonski, General Counsel, Democratic Party of Georgia
•David Shock, Associate Professor of Political Science, Kennesaw State University
•Todd Blackwell, Baldwin County Probate Judge and Elections Superintendent
•Beth Kish, Elections and Registration Manager, Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration
•Deborah Marshall, Columbia County Elections Director
•Charlotte Sosebee, Hall County Interim Elections Director
•Nancy Boren, Director, Muscogee County Office of Elections and Voter Registration
•Jeff Sinyard, Dougherty County Commissioner
•Richard Barclift, Elections Superintendent, City of Chickamauga
•Charles Schwabe, Mayor, City of Swainsboro

Elections Advisory Council Public Meetings

Atlanta Elections Advisory Council Meeting
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Georgia Capitol, Room 341

Savannah Elections Advisory Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
1:00 p.m.
Savannah Marriott Riverfront
100 General McIntosh Boulevard
Savannah, GA 31401

The Council will review the Georgia Election Code and State Election Board Rules in a series of meetings this year, and make recommendations that improve and strengthen Georgia’s election laws and procedures. The Council will look particularly at improvements that create cost savings and increase efficiencies for state, county and local governments.

The Council encourages input from the public, organizations, county elections directors and elected officials at all levels of government. Georgians can offer their input at Council meetings and on the Council’s website at www.sos.ga.gov/GAEAC.

Brian Kemp has been Secretary of State since January, 2010. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.

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