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  • Secretaries of State Since Statehood

Secretaries of State Since Statehood

1912-1918
Sidney P. Osborn
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: February 14, 1912 – 1918 Born: May 17, 1884, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Died: May 25, 1948, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: May 28, 1948, Greenwood Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Sidney P. Osborn was elected to the office in the Dec. 12, 1911, election but did not take office until Arizona became a state on Feb. 14, 1912. He was re-elected in the November 1914 and 1916 General Elections. Osborn served as Arizona governor from 1941 until his death on May 25, 1948. He was the first Arizona state governor to die while serving in the office of the governor. Osborn served as Arizona governor from 1941 until his death on May 25, 1948. He was the first Arizona state governor to die while serving in the office of the governor.
Read more about Sidney P. Osborn
1919-1920
Mit Simms
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1919 – 1920 Born: Aug. 12, 1873, Rockford, Coosa County, Alabama Died: July 22, 1957, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: Safford Union Cemetery, Graham County, Ariz. Simms was a delegate to the Arizona 1910 Constitutional Convention representing Graham County. He also served as State Treasurer 1915 – 1916, 1931 – 1932, 1935 – 1936, 1947 – 1948 and was a member of the Arizona Corporate Commission 1949 – 1954, 1955 – 1957.
Read more about Mit Simms
1921-1922
Ernest R. Hall
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: 1921 – 1922 Born: Feb. 10, 1880, Creston, Union County, Iowa Died: March 29, 1959, Arizona Pioneers' Home, Prescott, Yavapai County, Ariz. Buried: April 1, 1959, Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa County, Ariz. Hall was a U.S. Army, World War I veteran: "He expected to return to the Cuprite [mine] after the adjournment of the Legislature, but before the end of the session enlisted in the Twenty-seventh engineers and went to France. Shortly after his return from the war he was elected secretary of state." ("Ernest Hall Going Back to Mining." The Coconino Sun (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Dec. 8, 1922, p. 8) Sen. Hall did not resign his seat in the Legislature; however, starting on June 10, 1918, he was noted as "excused" in the Senate Journal.
Read more about Ernest R. Hall
1923-1928
James H. Kerby
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1923 – 1928; 1933 – 1938 Born: April 30, 1881, Huntsville, Randolph County, Missouri Died: Sept. 11, 1957, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: Sept. 13, 1957, Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. "Kerby, who died yesterday at his Phoenix home, was first elected secretary of state in 1922 and served two separate terms of six years each." ("James Kerby Funeral Set Tomorrow." Tucson Daily Citizen, Sept. 12, 1957, p. 16) Kerby left the office twice - in 1928 and in 1938 - to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Read more about James H. Kerby
1929
John C. Callaghan
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: Jan. 7, 1929 – Jan. 27, 1929 Born: July 9, 1869, Gallitzin, Cambria County, Pennsylvania Died: Jan. 27, 1929, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona Buried: Pennsylvania "Callaghan was elected at the last election [Nov. 6, 1928] and was to have taken office Jan. 7, but his inauguration was postponed because he was confined to a hospital at that time [he had been taken to the hospital on Jan. 5, 1929]. Callaghan died in office Jan. 27, 1929. ("Secretary of State of Arizona Passes on." The Helena Independent (Helena, Montana), Jan. 28, 1929, p. 8) George W. Nickle was the first person ever to be appointed secretary of state on Jan. 29, but declined the appointment the next day.
Read more about John C. Callaghan
1929-1930
I. P. "Ike" Fraizer
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: Jan. 30, 1929 – 1930 Born: Dec. 2, 1874, near Marshall, Clark County, Ill. Died: Sept. 16, 1932, Miami, Gila County, Ariz. Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Ariz. Gov. John C. Phillips appointed I. P. "Ike" Fraizer to the Office of the Secretary of State on Jan. 30, 1929, who accepted the position. In the past editions of printed Blue Books, Mr. Fraizer's name was spelled incorrectly. At the request of his granddaughter the name has been corrected in this edition of the Arizona Blue Book. (Request made Aug. 20, 2008, by Kathryn Fraizer Smith) When Secretary of State, J. C. Callaghan died, Gov. John C. Phillips first appointed George W. Nickle to the office on Jan. 29, 1929, who declined the appointment the next day.
Read more about I. P. "Ike" Fraizer
1931-1932
Scott White
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1931 – 1932 Born: Dec. 17, 1856, La Grange, Fayette County, Texas Died: March 4, 1935, Pioneers’ Home, Prescott, Yavapai County, Ariz. Buried: Phoenix, Ariz. He also served in the Arizona Fourteenth Legislative Assembly, House of Representatives in 1887; served on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors 1891 – 1892; and served as Cochise County Sheriff 1893 – 1894; 1897 – 1900 before becoming Secretary of State.
Read more about Scott White
1933-1938
James H. Kerby
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1923 – 1928; 1933 – 1938 Born: April 30, 1881, Huntsville, Randolph County, Missouri Died: Sept. 11, 1957, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: Sept. 13, 1957, Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. "Kerby, who died yesterday at his Phoenix home, was first elected secretary of state in 1922 and served two separate terms of six years each." ("James Kerby Funeral Set Tomorrow." Tucson Daily Citizen, Sept. 12, 1957, p. 16) Kerby left the office twice - in 1928 and in 1938 - to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Read more about James H. Kerby
1939-1942
Harry M. Moore
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1939 – Nov. 20, 1942 Born: Nov. 16, 1895, Peoria, Maricopa County, Arizona Territory Died: Nov. 20, 1942, Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: Nov. 25, 1942, Glendale, Maricopa County, Ariz. Arizona State Treasurer, Harry M. Moore, was elected Arizona Secretary of State in the general election on Nov. 1, 1938 and was sworn in January 2, 1939. He was elected to a second term as Secretary of State in 1940. ("Harry M. Moore Ariz. Secretary of State, Dead." Yuma Daily Sun, Nov. 21, 1942, p. 1) Seventeen days after Moore was elected to a third term in the general election on Nov. 3, 1942, he died of coronary thrombosis on Nov. 20, 1942 following an emergency operation for acute appendicitis. He was 47 years old.
Read more about Harry M. Moore
1942-1948
Dan E. Garvey
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: Nov. 27, 1942 – May 25, 1948 Born: June 19, 1886, Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi Died: Feb. 5, 1974, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: Tucson, Pima County, Ariz. After Arizona Secretary of State, Harry M. Moore, died on Nov. 20, 1942, Gov. Sidney P. Osborn named assistant Secretary of State, Dan E. Garvey, to the office on Nov. 27, 1942. Secretary of State Garvey was subsequently elected to the office in the November 1944 and 1946 general elections. Garvey was the first secretary of state to move up to the governor's office on Nov. 22, 1948, upon death of Gov. Sidney P. Osborn. He was considered "acting governor" upon examination of the Arizona Constitution, and there was an uncertainty about how his vacancy in the Office of Secretary of State would be filled.
Read more about Dan E. Garvey
1948-1949
Curtis M. Williams
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: Nov. 22, 1948 – Jan. 3, 1949 Born: Oct. 10, 1896, Hatchechubbee, Russell County, Alabama Died: June 8, 1969, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Buried: June 11, 1969, Greenwood Memorial Gardens, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Williams was appointed secretary of state in November of 1948 to fill the unexpired term of Sec. Dan E. Garvey who became governor. The 18th Arizona State Legislature, 7th Special Session (Sept. 13, 1948 – Oct. 14, 1948) passed House Concurrent Resolution No. 1 "A Concurrent Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Arizona Relating to Gubernatorial Succession" which was referred to the voters on the Nov. 2, 1948, ballot. This passed and, on Nov. 22, 1948, "Gov. Garvey's first official act was appointment of his former assistant, Curtis M. Williams as secretary of state. Williams will now receive the salary of the office. Williams has been acting secretary since Garvey became acting governor. He will be succeeded as secretary of state on Jan. 3 by Wesley Bolin, justice of the peace in the west Phoenix precinct, who won the office on the Democratic ticket." ("Garvey Sworn in as Governor." Tucson Daily Citizen, Nov. 23, 1948, p. 1)
Read more about Curtis M. Williams
1949-1977
Wesley Bolin
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1949 – Oct. 20, 1977 Born: July 1, 1909, Butler, Missouri Died: March 4, 1978, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Bolin was elected to the office in the Nov. 2, 1948, General Election and continued to be re-elected for 13 consecutive terms, a total of 29 years. He was the first secretary of state to serve four-year term from 1971 to 1975. Bolin succeeded from the office of Arizona Secretary of State to the governorship on Oct. 20, 1977, due to the resignation of Gov. Raul Hector Castro who had been appointed U. S. Ambassador to Argentina by President Carter.
Read more about Wesley Bolin
1977-1988
Rose Mofford
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: Oct. 20, 1977 – April 5, 1988 Born: June 10, 1922, Globe, Gila County, Ariz. Mofford was appointed on Oct. 20, 1977, to the office of Arizona Secretary of State by Gov. Wesley Bolin who succeeded to the governorship upon the resignation of Gov. Raul Castro who had been appointed U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. Secretary Mofford was elected to the office in the Nov. 7, 1978, General Election and was re-elected in 1982 and 1986. Mofford was the first woman elected as secretary of state. Rose Mofford succeeded to the governorship upon the impeachment and Arizona State Senate conviction of Gov. Evan Mecham on April 5, 1988.
Read more about Rose Mofford
1988-1990
James "Jim" Hyrum Shumway
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: April 13, 1988 – 1990 Born: July 8, 1939, Tempe, Maricopa County, Ariz. Died: May 11, 2003, Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Ariz. Shumway was appointed to the office of Arizona Secretary of State on April 13, 1988, by Gov. Rose Mofford who had succeeded to the governorship. Jim Shumway ran for the office in 1990 Democrat primary election but lost to Richard Mahoney who was eventually elected Arizona Secretary of State in the General Election.
Read more about James "Jim" Hyrum Shumway
1991-1994
Richard "Dick" D. Mahoney
Democrat
Served as Secretary of State: 1991 – 1994 Born: May 28, 1951, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Mahoney holds an A.B. in history (magna cum laude) from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in international relations from Johns Hopkins University School of International Studies along with a J.D. Arizona State University. As an international business consultant; lectured as a visiting professor at Templeton College (Oxford University), the JFK School of Government (Harvard University), the Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade, and the Universidad del Pacifico (Quito, Ecuador). He is professor emeritus at Thunderbird (The American Graduate School of International Management) and an author of two books on the Kennedy administration as well as numerous articles and monographs on presidential history, foreign policy, international trade, and political risk.
Read more about Richard "Dick" D. Mahoney
1995-1997
Jane Dee Hull
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: Jan. 3, 1995 – Sept. 5, 1997 Born: Aug. 8, 1935, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri Hull was elected to the office of Arizona Secretary of State in the Nov. 8, 1994, General Election and took the oath of office on Jan. 3, 1995. She succeeded to the governorship on Sept. 5, 1997, at 5 p.m. due to the resignation of Gov. John Fife Symington, III. Before becoming secretary, she was the first woman elected speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. After succeeding to the governor's office, she successfully ran and won the post and was the was first woman elected governor of Arizona (Gov. Rose Mofford never ran for the office).
Read more about Jane Dee Hull
1997-2002
Betsey Bayless
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: Sept. 11, 1997 – 2002 Born: Jan. 10, 1944, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Bayless was appointed as secretary by Gov. Jane Dee Hull who had succeeded to the governorship. She was later elected by voters to the office on Nov. 3, 1998, and took the oath of office Jan. 4, 1999. Bayless speaks Spanish and earned her Bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of Arizona
Read more about Betsey Bayless
2003-2009
Janice K. Brewer
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: 2003 – January 20, 2009 Born: Sept. 26, 1944, Hollywood, Los Angeles County, Calif. Brewer was elected as secretary in the Nov. 5, 2002, General Election and took the oath of office on Jan. 6, 2003. She was re-elected in the Nov. 7, 2006, General Election. On Jan. 20, 2009, Gov. Janet Napolitano was confirmed as Homeland Security director to President Obama and resigned as governor Brewer succeeded to the governorship from the office of Arizona Secretary of State and was sworn in Jan. 21, 2009, upon the resignation of Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Read more about Janice K. Brewer
2009-2014
Ken Bennett
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: Jan. 26, 2009 – 2014 Born: Aug. 1, 1959, Tucson, Pima County, Ariz. Ken Bennett was appointed by Gov. Jan Brewer to replace her as secretary of state, and took the oath of office on Jan. 26, 2009. Bennett was subsequently elected by the voters to the office on Nov. 2, 2010. Prior to becoming secretary, Bennett had served as Arizona State Senate President.
Read more about Ken Bennett
2015-2018
Michele Reagan
Republican
Served as Secretary of State: Jan 5, 2015 - 2018 Born: Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois Arizona resident since 1991 Michele Reagan was elected by the voters to the office on Nov. 4, 2014, and took the oath of office on Jan. 5, 2015. Prior to becoming secretary, Reagan served in both the State House and Senate.
Read more about Michele Reagan
2019 - Current
Katie Hobbs
Secretary Katie Hobbs has led a life of service. Beginning as a volunteer at her church and continuing with her job as a social worker and chief compliance officer at one of the largest domestic violence centers in the U.S., the focus of her life has been to help others to gain security, to be heard, and to create better lives.
Read more about Katie Hobbs

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