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  Priest, Sharon
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
  2006-01-01  
 
NameSharon Priest
Address
Little Rock, Arkansas , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born September 12, 1947 (76 years)
Contributoreddy 9_99
Last ModifedThomas Walker
Aug 13, 2009 12:23pm
Tags
InfoFirst woman elected Arkansas Secretary of State -- November 1994

Chair, State Board of Election Commissioners

Chair, Capitol Arts & Grounds Commission

Information Network of Arkansas, Board of Directors

Effectively implemented the federally enacted Motor Voter registration program

Developed and implemented first personnel and purchasing policies for the office

Initiated two Secretary of State state-wide citizen advisory groups:

State Advisory Committee - a diverse group of Arkansans organized to
voice concerns and comments regarding public access, quality of
information and success of policies

History Advisory Council - a group of educators and professionals
organized to review educational materials produced and distributed by
the Secretary of State


Municipal Public Service

Elected to Little Rock Board of Directors, 1986 and 1990

Established the first city flag for Little Rock
Led petition drive for Fourche Creek flood reduction project
Elected Vice-Mayor of Little Rock, 1989 - 1990

Elected Mayor of Little Rock, 1991 - 1992

Led the "Fight Back - Insure the Children" campaign
Started Arts & Humanities curriculum for children in the Summer Parks Program
Instrumental in forming FUTURE Little Rock, a community goal-setting process
All-America City Award, 1992

Leadership Experience

President, National Association of Secretaries of State Chair, National Election Standards Taskforce

Graduate, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government's Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government

Graduate, Leadership Greater Little Rock inaugural class; active in alumni organization

Board Member, Women Executives in State Government

Executive Committee Member, Council of State Governments

Member, Arkansas Women's Leadership Forum

President, Metroplan Board of Directors, 1990; Vice-President, 1989


Member, National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, 1993

Community Service

Member, United Way of Pulaski County Board of Directors State Government Coordinator, '96 - '01 United Way Campaigns

Member, Junior Achievement Board of Directors

Member, Sheriff's Boys and Girls Ranch Board of Directors

Member, EAST Advisory Board

Member, Little Rock City Beautiful Commission; Chair, 1983 - 1986

Worked to pass the Storm Water Management ordinance

Established Streetscape Strategy

Headed construction drive for commemorative Belvedere in Riverfront Park as part of Arkansas Sesquicentennial

Led Operation City Beautiful efforts Organized City Beautiful Kids

Business Experience

Director, Membership Relations for Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, '90 -'94

Founder and owner, Devlin Company, a property management firm, 1983 - 1986

H & R Block tax preparer and instructor, 1976-1978

Honors and Awards

Public Administrator of the Year Award, Arkansas Society of Public Administration, 2001

Distinguished Leader 2000, Leadership Greater Little Rock Alumni Association

Excellence in Leadership Fellowship, Women Executives in State Government, 1997

"Top 100 Women in Arkansas" , Arkansas Business 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

TIME/NASBE Award for Outstanding Leadership in Voter Education, 1996

Florence Crittenton Home "Woman of Distinction", 1996

Toll Fellow, 1995

Fighting Back Freedom Fighter Award, 1995

Environmental Services Award, Little Rock Metroplan Committee, 1982

Six Bernard de la Harpe Awards for Public Service, Leadership Greater Little Rock Alumni Association

Family

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Moved to Little Rock, Arkansas in November of 1974.
Married to Bill Priest of Ward, Arkansas and one son, Adam.


*************************

SHARON PRIEST Secretary of State State Capitol, Room 256 Little Rock, 72201 501-682-1216 Fax: 682-3510 e-mail address: sharonpriest@sosmail@ccsmtpgw.state.ar.us

Collaboration and empowerment are central to Sharon Priest's management style.

"I am an active participant in the collaborative decision-making process, then I empower my staff to handle the logistics of implementation. I provide the vision and lead the organization through making policy decisions. But I know empowering my staff is key to the success of our policies," Priest says.

When Priest took office in January 1995 as Arkansas's 31st secretary of state, she became the first woman elected to the office. She and her staff hit the ground running and have kept up the pace since.

With a career characterized by service to Little Rock and now the entire state, Priest still carves out time to volunteer for a variety of neighborhood activities.

Birthday and Place: Sept. 12, 1947, Montreal, Canada.

Spouse: Bill Priest.

Children: Adam, 18.

Career Highlights: 1996, Southern Region Vice President, National Association of Secretaries of StateThe National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) is a group comprised of the Secretaries of State of the states and territories of the United States. Currently, all Secretaries of State excluding Hawaii and Wisconsin (but including Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S.
..... Click the link for more information.; 1994-present, secretary of state of Arkansas; 1986-94, Little Rock Board of Directors; 1989-94, Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, director of membership relations; 1991-94, mayor, Little Rock.

Professional Organizations: National Association of Secretaries of State, executive committee, 1996; State Board of Election Commissioners, chairwoman, 1996; Information Network of Arkansas, chairwoman, 1996; Association of ADAAda, city, United States
Ada (ā`ə), city (1990 pop. 15,820), seat of Pontotoc co., S central Okla.; inc. 1904. It is a large cattle market and the center of a rich oil and ranch area.
..... Click the link for more information. Coordinators.

Civic Organizations: National Family Partnership of Arkansas, secretary, 1996; Southwest Hospital, board of directors, 1996; LISC LISC Local Initiatives Support Corporation (New York, NY)
LISC Little Illini Soccer Club (Champaign-Urbana, Illinois)
LISC Long Island Subaru Club
LISC Laboratory for Intelligent Systems and Controls , board of directors, 1996; Arkansas Ice Hockey, board of directors, 1996.

Awards and Honors: Arkansas Business Top 100 Women in Arkansas; 1995, 1996; Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments, 1995; Fighting Back Freedom Fighter Award, 1995.

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