Secretary of State of Florida

The secretary of state of Florida is an executive officer of the state government of the U.S. state of Florida, established since 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." The current secretary is Cord Byrd.

History During the territorial period of Florida, the secretary of the territory was one of two major appointed positions within the executive department of the territory. Like the governor, the secretary was originally appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by Congress. The job of the secretary was similar to that of a modern-day lieutenant governor, assuming administrative responsibilities of the territory in the absence of the governor. For example, the first secretary of the territory George Walton served as Acting Governor of the Territory until William P. Duval assumed office later that year. Walton was the first civilian to act in this capacity following the American acquisition of Florida.

The modern-day Department of State and the position of Secretary of State dates to 1845, when Florida achieved statehood. The secretary of state of Florida was elected by the people of the state in a general election. In 1998, constitutional changes 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 and since 2002, the secretary of state of Florida has been appointed by the governor.

List of secretaries of the Territory of Florida # Name Term of service1George Walton1822–18272William M. McCarty1827–18293James Westcott1829–18344George K. Walker1834–18355John P. Duval1837–18396Joseph McCants1840–18417Thomas H. Duval1841–1845

List of secretaries of the State of Florida +Secretaries of state by party affiliation Party Secretaries of state Republican 20 Democratic 16 Whig 1 # Image Name Term of service Political party1James T. Archer1845–1848Democratic2Augustus Maxwell1848–1849Democratic3Charles W. Downing Jr.1849–1853Whig4Frederick L. Villepigue1853–1863Democratic5Benjamin F. Allen1863–1868Democratic6George J. Alden1868Republican7Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs1868–1873Republican8Samuel B. McLin1873–1877Republican9William D. Bloxham1877–1880Democratic10Frederick W. A. Rankin Jr.1880–1881Democratic11John L. Crawford1881–1902Democratic12Henry Clay Crawford1902–1929Democratic13William Monroe Igou1929–1930Democratic14Robert Andrew Gray1930–1961Democratic15Thomas Burton Adams Jr.1961–1971Democratic16Richard Stone1971–1974Democratic17Dorothy Glisson1974–1975Democratic18Bruce Smathers1975–1978Democratic19Jesse J. McCrary Jr.1978–1979Democratic20George Firestone1979–1987Democratic21James C. Smith1987–1995Republican22Sandra Mortham1995–1999Republican23Katherine Harris1999–2002Republican24James C. Smith2002–2003Republican25Ken Detzner2003Republican26Glenda Hood2003–2005Republican27David E. Mann2005Republican28Sue M. Cobb2005–2007Republican29Kurt S. Browning2007–2010Republican30Dawn K. Roberts2010–2011 (interim)Republican31Jennifer Kennedy2011 (interim)Republican32Kurt S. Browning2011–2012Republican33Ken Detzner2012–2019Republican34Mike Ertel2019Republican35Jennifer Kennedy2019 (interim)Republican36Laurel Lee2019–2022Republican37Cord Byrd2022–presentRepublican

See also List of company registers

References

External links History of the Office of Secretary of State of Florida