Secretary of State of Florida
Encyclopedia
The Secretary of State of Florida is a constitutional officer of the state government
of the U.S. state
of Florida
, established by the original 1838 state constitution.
Like the corresponding officials in other states, the original charge of the Secretary of State — to be the "Keeper of the Great Seal
" — has expanded greatly since the office was first created. According to the state website, "Today, the Secretary of State is Florida's Chief of Elections, Chief Cultural Officer, the State Protocol
Officer and the head of the Department of State."
. However, in 1998, constitutional reforms removed the Secretary of State from the elected Cabinet
of the executive branch. That year, Katherine Harris
won the last election for Secretary of State.
Today, the Secretary of State of Florida is appointed by the Governor. The current Secretary of State is Kurt S. Browning
.
State government
A state government is the government of a subnational entity in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal government...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, established by the original 1838 state constitution.
Like the corresponding officials in other states, the original charge of the Secretary of State — to be the "Keeper of the Great Seal
Seal of Florida
The Great Seal of the State of Florida is used to represent the Government of the State of Florida, and for various official purposes, such as to seal official documents and legislation. It is also commonly used on state government buildings, vehicles and other effects of the state government...
" — has expanded greatly since the office was first created. According to the state website, "Today, the Secretary of State is Florida's Chief of Elections, Chief Cultural Officer, the State Protocol
Protocol (diplomacy)
In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state.A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic services and governmental fields of endeavor protocols are often unwritten guidelines...
Officer and the head of the Department of State."
History
Originally, the Secretary of State of Florida was elected by the people of the state in the general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. However, in 1998, constitutional reforms removed the Secretary of State from the elected Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of the executive branch. That year, Katherine Harris
Katherine Harris
Katherine Harris is an American Republican politician, former Secretary of State of Florida, and former member of the United States House of Representatives. Harris won the 2002 election to represent Florida's 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She held that post...
won the last election for Secretary of State.
Today, the Secretary of State of Florida is appointed by the Governor. The current Secretary of State is Kurt S. Browning
Kurt S. Browning
Kurt S. Browning is a previous Secretary of State of Florida, who has been re-appointed to that position by the new Governor, Rick Scott. Browning, a Republican, was first appointed in December 2006 by then-Governor-elect Charlie Crist....
.
List of Secretaries of State
Source:- James Tillinghast ArcherJames T. ArcherJames Tillinghast Archer was an American lawyer and politician from the state of Florida.Archer was the first Secretary of State of Florida, serving from 1845 to 1848. He was Florida Attorney General in 1848...
, 1845-48 - Augustus Emmett MaxwellAugustus MaxwellAugustus Emmett Maxwell was a United States Representative from Florida as well as a senator in the Confederate Congress representing Florida.-Early life:...
, 1848-49 - Charles W. Downing, Jr.Charles W. Downing, Jr.Charles W. Downing, Jr. was the third Secretary of State of Florida. He served from July 23, 1849 and June 30, 1853, when Florida was still Florida Territory ....
, 1849-53 - Frederick L. VillepigueFrederick L. VillepigueFrederick L. Villepigue served as Secretary of State of Florida from July 1, 1853 to January 13, 1863.Villepigue was born in South Carolina. He was descended from a Frenchman, Francois Villepigue, who immigrated from France to Santo Domingo, a French colony, in 1788, but was killed by his slaves...
, 1853-63 - Benjamin F. Allen, 1863-68
- George J. Alden 1868
- Jonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson Gibbs, II was a Presbyterian minister and a prominent African-American officeholder during Reconstruction...
, 1868-73 - Samuel B. Mclin, 1873-77
- William Dunnington BloxhamWilliam D. BloxhamWilliam Dunnington Bloxham was an American politician. He served as the 13th and 17th Governor of Florida in two non-consecutive terms. Prior to his first term as governor, he served in the Florida House of Representatives....
, 1877-80 - Frederick W. A. Rankin, Jr., 1880-81
- John Lovic Crawford, 1881-1902
- Henry Clay CrawfordHenry Clay CrawfordHenry Clay Crawford served as Secretary of State of Florida from 1902 to 1929, succeeding his father John Lovic Crawford, who served from 1881 to 1902, upon his death. He was a Democrat. H. Clay Crawford held several jobs before becoming chief clerk to his father...
, 1902-29 - William Monroe Igou, 1929-30
- Robert Andrew Gray, 1930-61
- Thomas Burton "Tom" Adams, Jr.Thomas Burton Adams, Jr.Thomas Burton "Tom" Adams, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. A Democrat, he served in the Florida Senate , as Secretary of State of Florida , and as the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Florida .-Early life:Adams was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Thomas Burton Adams,...
, 1961-71 - Richard Bernard Stone, 1971-74
- Dorothy W. Glisson, 1974-75
- Bruce Armistead SmathersBruce SmathersBruce Armistead Smathers was a member of the Florida State Senate and then was elected to and served as Secretary of State of Florida from 1975 - 1978....
, 1975-78 - Jesse J. McCrary, Jr., 1978-79
- George FirestoneGeorge FirestoneGeorge Firestone is an American political figure from the U.S. state of Florida. He is a Democrat.Firestone was born in New York City in 1931. He moved to Miami, Florida with his family as a child in 1936. Firestone served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1952...
, 1979-87 - James C. SmithJames C. SmithJames Cloudis Smith is an American lawyer. He served as Florida Attorney General, Florida Secretary of State, and is current the Chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees.-Early years:Smith received his B.S...
, 1987-95 - Sandra MorthamSandra MorthamSandra Mortham, also known as Sandra Barringer, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on January 4, 1951.- Political career :Mortham was a member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 52nd District from 1986 to 1994. She was the Secretary of State of Florida from 1995 to 1999. Mortham was...
, 1995-99 - Katherine HarrisKatherine HarrisKatherine Harris is an American Republican politician, former Secretary of State of Florida, and former member of the United States House of Representatives. Harris won the 2002 election to represent Florida's 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She held that post...
, 1999-2002 - James C. SmithJames C. SmithJames Cloudis Smith is an American lawyer. He served as Florida Attorney General, Florida Secretary of State, and is current the Chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees.-Early years:Smith received his B.S...
, 2002-03 - Kenneth W. Detzner, 2003
- Glenda HoodGlenda HoodGlenda Evans Hood is a U.S. politician, who was Secretary of State of Florida, from 2003 to 2005, and the first woman to serve as Mayor of Orlando ....
, 2003-05 - David E. MannDavid E. MannDavid E. Mann was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1977 to 1981.-Biography:...
, 2005 - Sue McCourt CobbSue M. CobbSue McCourt Cobb, OJ , served as Secretary of State of Florida from 2005-2007. She also held the position of United States Ambassador to Jamaica from 2001-2005. She was the first woman to be appointed to that position...
, 2005-07 - Kurt S. BrowningKurt S. BrowningKurt S. Browning is a previous Secretary of State of Florida, who has been re-appointed to that position by the new Governor, Rick Scott. Browning, a Republican, was first appointed in December 2006 by then-Governor-elect Charlie Crist....
, 2007-10 - Dawn K. Roberts, interim, 2010-11
- Jennifer Kennedy, acting, 2011
- Kurt S. BrowningKurt S. BrowningKurt S. Browning is a previous Secretary of State of Florida, who has been re-appointed to that position by the new Governor, Rick Scott. Browning, a Republican, was first appointed in December 2006 by then-Governor-elect Charlie Crist....
. 2011-present