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Recently, I have reviewed the powers and duties of several prominent positions in Texas state government. This week I will continue the series with a discussion of the office of Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is an executive office appointed by the Governor with confirmation from the Senate. The Secretary of State serves a four year term and is not limited to a particular number of reappointments. An interesting historical fact is that Stephen F. Austin served as the first Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas.The Secretary of State has a number of responsibilities. This officer serves as the Chief Election Officer in Texas. Along with county officials, the Secretary of State administers state election laws. This office is also responsible for tallying election returns for state and district offices. In addition to the offices' election duties, the Secretary of State has other responsibilities relating to business and industry. The Secretary grants charters to corporations in Texas as well as authorizes permits to corporations outside of the state. Businesses and commercial records, which must be filed with the state, are held in the office of the Secretary of State.The office also processes requests for the extradition of criminals to or from other states for the purpose of trials and punishment. The Secretary of State compiles new laws enacted by each legislative session and publishes them in the General and Special Laws of the State of Texas. As the one that commissions notaries public, the Secretary serves as an attestor to the Governor's signature on official documents and acts as "Keeper of the State Seal." Finally, the Secretary is also the Chief International Protocol Officer for Texas and serves as senior advisor and liaison to the Governor for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs.The current Secretary of State is Geoffrey Connor, who was appointed by Governor Rick Perry in August, 2003. Prior to this appointment, Connor served as Assistant Secretary of State for nearly three years. He is an attorney who was born and raised in Runnels County. Secretary Connor has previously served as general counsel for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, assistant commissioner and general counsel for the Texas Department of Agriculture and as deputy general counsel to former Governor William Clements.To learn more about the Secretary of State and this office, please visit their website at www.sos.state.tx.us.
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