Beth Chapman
| Beth Chapman | |
|---|---|
| 51st Alabama Secretary of State | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Nancy Worley (D) |
| 38th Alabama State Auditor | |
| In office 2003–2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Susan Parker (D) |
| Succeeded by | Samantha Shaw (R) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 6, 1962  Greenville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | James Chapman (1988-2011, his death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Hoover, Alabama & Montgomery, Alabama |
| Alma mater | Fort Dale Academy [1] University of Montevallo University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Beth Killough Chapman (born April 6, 1962). is an American politician from Alabama. A member of the Republican Party, she is currently the state's 51st secretary of state.
Contents |
Personal [edit]
Beth Killough was born in Greenville, Alabama. Following graduation from Fort Dale Academy [2], she earned a B.S. from the University of Montevallo, and a Master's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 1988, she married James Chapman, with whom she has two sons, Winston Taylor Chapman (named in honor of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill) and William Thatcher Chapman (named in honor of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher). Her husband, James Chapman unexpectedly died on April 3, 2011, of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) at the age of 50. [1] The family currently lives in Hoover, Alabama. Chapman also maintains a residence in Montgomery, Alabama.
Political History [edit]
From 1995 to 1996, she served as Appointments Secretary in the Cabinet of Governor Fob James, becoming the first woman to serve in that post. Following a stint in the private sector, she served as Press Secretary for Lieutenant Governor Steve Windom from 2000 to 2001. During the 2000 presidential election, she served as a delegate pledged to George W. Bush at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, and as a member of Alabama's delegation to the Electoral College later that year.
Resigning from Lt. Governor Windom's staff in November 2001, she entered the 2002 race for State Auditor, scoring an upset victory in the Republican primary, before goining on to win the general election, capturing a seat previously held by Democrat Susan Parker. She served as State Auditor of Alabama from 2003 to 2007. She was elected as Secretary of State in November 2006, defeating incumbent Nancy Worley by a margin of 57% to 43%.[2] She assumed that office in January 2007. Chapman was mentioned as a possible candidate for Governor of Alabama in the 2010 election.[3]
In early 2008, Chapman became the subject of attacks by Mark Montiel, a Republican former judge.[4] Montiel sought to have the Alabama Ethics Commission and the Attorney General review tens of thousands of dollars paid by Chapman's 2006 campaign to her husband and sons. Attorney General Troy King, a fellow Republican, announced the complaint against Chapman does not appear to raise any violations of the law. He also wrote that state law does not prohibit a candidate from hiring family members to work in a campaign.[5] Chapman was cleared by the Ethics Commission on the complaint.[6]
In May 2008, Chapman again made headlines when an Associated Press story revealed that Chapman's personal consulting firm is paid nearly $50,000 annually by a private charity that receives funding from the state government.[7] Democratic critics attacked Chapman, and Alabama Republicans generally, for engaging in such deals while attacking Democratic legislators holding state jobs. Chapman denied wrongdoing, and stated that the charity's funds paid to her firm come from fundraising, not its state grants. The Birmingham News, which had endorsed Chapman in her 2006 campaign,[8] rejected these arguments and sharply criticized her over the issue.[9]
On April 6, 2009 Chapman announced she would seek reelection as Alabama Secretary of State in 2010, and was successful in her bid.
References [edit]
Notes [edit]
- ^ James Chapman, 50 dies (Shelby County Reporter article)
- ^ Alabama Secretary of State Certificate of Election: General Election 2006
- ^ "Democrats Can’t Start a Fire Without a Sparks," Roll Call, May 15, 2007
- ^ "Former Judge Seeks Probe," Mobile Press-Register, March 18, 2008, p. B2
- ^ Alabama AG Says Complaint against Secretary of State Unsupported
- ^ Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman cleared by Ethics Commission on complaint she misused campaign funds
- ^ "Double Dipping Controversy: Alabama Secretary of State Does Paid Charity Work," Mobile Press-Register, May 15, 2008, p. B2
- ^ "Our Recommendations," The Birmingham News, November 5, 2006, p. 2D
- ^ "Beth Chapman's Moonlighting," The Birmingham News, May 19, 2008, p. 4A
External links [edit]
| Preceded by Nancy Worley |
Secretary of State of Alabama 2007–Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
|
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Secretaries of State of Alabama
- State cabinet secretaries of Alabama
- 2000 United States presidential electors
- University of Alabama at Birmingham alumni
- Women in Alabama politics
- State Auditors of Alabama
- Alabama Republicans
- University of Montevallo alumni
- People from Butler County, Alabama
- People from Hoover, Alabama
- 2004 United States presidential electors
