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Biography
 Click here for a high-resolution image suitable for print Secretary of State Beth Chapman was elected Alabama’s 51st Secretary of
State in
November of 2006.
Secretary Chapman received her B.S. Degree from the University of
Montevallo, and her Masters Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of
Alabama at Birmingham.
Secretary Chapman was the first woman in Alabama’s history to serve as a
Cabinet Member in the capacity of Appointments Secretary for a Governor and
later as Press Secretary for a Lt. Governor. In addition, she has owned and
operated a successful business.
Elected as State Auditor in 2002, Secretary Chapman was responsible for $1.6
billion in property assets. Under her leadership, the State Auditor’s Office
produced a record breaking 96 % perfect audits among state agencies, holding
them to the highest level of accountability.
Secretary Chapman has received numerous personal and professional honors and
awards including two appointments by Congressman Spencer Bachus to the
Women’s Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, the Outstanding Alumni
Achievement Award from the University of Montevallo and she is a graduate of
the Executives in State Government Management Institute at Princeton
University. She has worked with the Developing Alabama Youth Program, Family
Connections, Shelby County Child Advocacy Center, and has served on the
boards of the Shelby County Family Resource Center, the Children’s Policy
Council, the Crisis Center, the Court Appointed Special Advocates, Lifeline
Ministries and Turning Point Foundation.
In addition, she has received numerous military commendations for her
advancement of the patriotic spirit in America: the Seven Seals Award by the
Employer Support for the Guard and Reserves (ESGR), two appointments by
Governor Bob Riley and General Mark Bowen for the Partnership for Peace
Program - representing Alabama in Romania, Belgium and Germany. Secretary
Chapman was honored by the United States Selective Service Board, received
an award of support from the Alabama National Guard, and was chosen to
represent Alabama at the National Security Forum at Air War College at
Maxwell Air Force Base. She has been invited to speak and represent Alabama
at numerous military events throughout the United States.
Secretary Chapman has served as a member of the Governor’s Committee on
Accountability and is an active member in the National Association of
Secretaries of State and the United States Election Assistance Commission.
She was elected unanimously as a member of Alabama’s Electoral College in
2004.
She is the author of two books. One, The Power of Patriotism, received
national recognition and was awarded the distinguished George Washington
Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. She has also
written two patriotic speeches, which have been entered into the
Congressional Record by Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Jo Bonner
respectively.
Secretary Chapman is a highly sought after motivational speaker and
Christian comedian. She and her husband James have two sons, Taylor and
Thatcher. They are active in their community and church.
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