Natalie Tennant
Encyclopedia
Natalie E. Tennant is the Secretary of State of West Virginia
. She was elected in 2008 and officially took office as the 29th Secretary of State on January 19, 2009. She is a member of the Democratic Party
.
Prior to her election as Secretary of State, Tennant was a television broadcaster and reporter, working at WBOY-TV
in Clarksburg
and later at WCHS-TV
in Charleston
. Tennant was also co-owner of a small business – Wells Media Group, a Charleston-based video production and media training company.
, Marion County
, West Virginia
and is the daughter of John and Rose Mary Tennant. She graduated from West Virginia University
in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, and she obtained a master’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication from WVU in 2002. While at WVU, Tennant was selected in 1990 as the first woman to represent the university as the Mountaineer mascot. Following completion of her undergraduate degree in 1991, Tennant began her career in television broadcasting and reporting.
and then-State Senator Billy Wayne Bailey
to become Secretary of State. Tennant also ran for the office in 2004 but lost in the primary to Ken Hechler
by about 1,000 votes.
As Secretary of State, Tennant is West Virginia’s Chief Election Officer. In 2010, Tennant piloted an online voting initiative for West Virginian military members and overseas citizens for the primary election. In the 5 counties that participated in Tennant’s pilot project, the rate of return was 82% for those who requested ballots, in comparison to the 40% rate of return for regular absentee voters in the pilot counties. Tennant testified before Congress on the success of West Virginia’s program in February 2011.
Tennant also oversees the state’s Business and Licensing Division. Tennant has instituted a number of initiatives to make it easier for businesses to operate in West Virginia, including eliminating transaction fees for businesses that file online, expanding online services to include obtaining Certificates of Existence and Certificates of Authorization, and setting up a mobile Secretary of State’s office to help business owners file annual reports. Under Tennant, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office saw a significant increase in online business filings.
Public polling conducted in January 2011 showed Tennant to be a front runner in the Democratic primary, alongside acting governor Earl Ray Tomblin
.
She lost the primary election to acting governor Earl Ray Tomblin
, coming in third place behind state house speaker Rick Thompson.
. Tennant and Wells have one daughter, Delaney, and reside in Charleston.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. She was elected in 2008 and officially took office as the 29th Secretary of State on January 19, 2009. She is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Prior to her election as Secretary of State, Tennant was a television broadcaster and reporter, working at WBOY-TV
WBOY-TV
WBOY-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for North-Central West Virginia that is licensed to Clarksburg. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter east of downtown and U.S. 50. Owned by West Virginia Media Holdings, the station has studios on West...
in Clarksburg
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, in the north-central region of the state. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area...
and later at WCHS-TV
WCHS-TV
WCHS-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Charleston and Huntington, West Virginia. This area is the second-largest market in terms of area east of the Mississippi River and consists of 61 counties in Central West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Southern Ohio...
in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
. Tennant was also co-owner of a small business – Wells Media Group, a Charleston-based video production and media training company.
Early life and education
Tennant grew up on a farm in FairviewFairview, West Virginia
Fairview is a town in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fairview is located at ....
, Marion County
Marion County, West Virginia
| style="float:right;"|As of the census of 2000, there were 56,598 people, 23,652 households, and 15,515 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 26,660 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and is the daughter of John and Rose Mary Tennant. She graduated from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, and she obtained a master’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication from WVU in 2002. While at WVU, Tennant was selected in 1990 as the first woman to represent the university as the Mountaineer mascot. Following completion of her undergraduate degree in 1991, Tennant began her career in television broadcasting and reporting.
2008 Secretary of State Campaign
In 2008 Tennant beat out then-Democratic House of Delegates Majority Leader Joe DeLongJoe DeLong
Joe DeLong is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 1st District from 2000-2008. He held the position of Majority Leader of the House of Delegates from 2006-2008. In 2008 he decided to forgo re-election to the House and...
and then-State Senator Billy Wayne Bailey
Billy Wayne Bailey
Billy Wayne Bailey is a former Democratic member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the 9th District from his appointment in January 1991 until leaving office in 2009....
to become Secretary of State. Tennant also ran for the office in 2004 but lost in the primary to Ken Hechler
Ken Hechler
Kenneth William Hechler is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1959 to 1977 and was West Virginia Secretary of State from 1985 to 2001....
by about 1,000 votes.
West Virginia's 29th Secretary of State
Tennant officially took office as the 29th West Virginia Secretary of State on January 19, 2009.As Secretary of State, Tennant is West Virginia’s Chief Election Officer. In 2010, Tennant piloted an online voting initiative for West Virginian military members and overseas citizens for the primary election. In the 5 counties that participated in Tennant’s pilot project, the rate of return was 82% for those who requested ballots, in comparison to the 40% rate of return for regular absentee voters in the pilot counties. Tennant testified before Congress on the success of West Virginia’s program in February 2011.
Tennant also oversees the state’s Business and Licensing Division. Tennant has instituted a number of initiatives to make it easier for businesses to operate in West Virginia, including eliminating transaction fees for businesses that file online, expanding online services to include obtaining Certificates of Existence and Certificates of Authorization, and setting up a mobile Secretary of State’s office to help business owners file annual reports. Under Tennant, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office saw a significant increase in online business filings.
2011 Gubernatorial Campaign
On January 20, 2011, Tennant announced she was running for the Democratic nomination for Governor of West Virginia for the 2011 special gubernatorial election. Tennant focused her campaign on openness and accountability, which she says has been a hallmark of her tenure as Secretary of State.Public polling conducted in January 2011 showed Tennant to be a front runner in the Democratic primary, alongside acting governor Earl Ray Tomblin
Earl Ray Tomblin
Earl Ray Tomblin is an American politician who serves as the 35th and current Governor of West Virginia. Tomblin is a member of the Democratic Party. Tomblin has served as President of the West Virginia State Senate for over 16 years. He became Acting Governor in 2010 following Joe Manchin's...
.
She lost the primary election to acting governor Earl Ray Tomblin
Earl Ray Tomblin
Earl Ray Tomblin is an American politician who serves as the 35th and current Governor of West Virginia. Tomblin is a member of the Democratic Party. Tomblin has served as President of the West Virginia State Senate for over 16 years. He became Acting Governor in 2010 following Joe Manchin's...
, coming in third place behind state house speaker Rick Thompson.
Personal life
Prior to Tennant's election as Secretary of State, she was co-owner of Wells Media Group, a Charleston-based video production and media training company she operated with her husband, state Senator Erik WellsErik Wells
Erik Patrick Wells is an American politician and former television news anchor. Wells was born and raised in California but moved to West Virginia in the early 1990s to further his career in journalism...
. Tennant and Wells have one daughter, Delaney, and reside in Charleston.
External links
- Official website of the West Virginia Secretary of State
- Interview with Natalie Tennant On WV PBS October, 2008