MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman is resigning effective Aug. 1 to take a job in the private sector.
Chapman was Alabama state auditor for four years before unseating Democrat Nancy Worley as Secretary of State in 2006. She was re-elected in 2010.
Her term was set to expire in January of 2015, but she’s opting instead to resign 17 months out to take a consulting job, which she says will not involve lobbying.
While Chapman’s resignation comes as a major surprise to many folks around Alabama, she says it is something she has been considering since her husband passed away in 2011 at the age of 50.
“The death of my husband two years ago turned my world upside down,” Chapman told Yellowhammer Monday morning. “I have two children and a grandchild that I want to get through college, and every now and then a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself and you have to take it.”
Chapman said she is proud of the work her team has done over the last seven years, particularly when it comes to cracking down on voter fraud.
“We have stopped a lot of voter fraud, cleaned up voter rolls, and held the largest presidential election in our state’s history,” Chapman said. “I believe I am leaving the office better than I found it.”
Chapman also highlighted the technological advancements that have been made during her tenure, including moving the state’s business division online. She recently debuted a new computerized campaign finance filing system that has brought Alabama’s campaign finance disclosures out of the dark ages.
When Yellowhammer asked if Chapman had any plans to return to public office in the future, she said she is excited about the new challenges she is about to take on, but did not rule out one day returning to public service.
“It is hard to predict the future,” Chapman said. “I am honored to have been on some short lists of future contenders for governor, but I am not looking at that right now. If something unique presents itself in the future, I may or may not consider it.”
Chapman said her proudest accomplishment has been providing fair and honest elections for the people of Alabama. She has also been a major advocate for military voting rights, fighting to ensure men and women in uniform have their votes counted, even when they are cast while on deployment overseas.
According to the governor’s office, the governor will appoint a replacement soon to complete Chapman’s term, but he will not consider anyone currently running for secretary of state or anyone who might be interested in running for the office in 2014.
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