Betsey Bayless

Range of Years Served: 
1997-2002
Party: 
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

Biography

Name:  Betsey Bayless

Name as Secretary of State:  Betsey Bayless

Notes: Bayless is a third-generation Arizonan.

Other Elected Offices:
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors: Office Years:  1989 – 1997, Chairman of the Board:  1992, 1994, Vice-Chairman:  1997

Education:  Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies and Spanish, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1966; Master of Public Administration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 1974

Occupations:  Chief Executive Officer of Maricopa Integrated Health System, an independent health care district approved by voters in 2003 and governed by a five-member Board of Directors; director, Arizona Dept. of Administration; acting director, Arizona Dept. of Revenue, assistant director, Arizona Board of Regents; vice president of public finance for Peacock, Hislop, Staley & Given, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona

Memberships:  University of Arizona College of Business and Public Administration national board of advisors; ASU West advisory board; Xavier College Preparatory Foundation board of directors; Arizona Center for the Book board of directors; Governor’s Commission on Violence Against Women; Arizona Town Hall; Charter 100; Valley Leadership Class VI; Arizona Republican Caucus; Arizona Women’s Forum.

Firsts:  Created a statewide toll-free voter registration hotline.  Established a Voter Outreach program.  Established a Tucson Secretary of State Satellite Office.

Notable: Bayless was the recipient of the 2005 Valley Leadership Woman of the Year Award

Sources:  SOS bio; DOB:  Scutari, Chip.  “Bayless is Helping State to Run More Efficiently; Administration Chief Cuts Costs.”  The Arizona Republic, April 10, 2005, p. B 10; misc. notes compiled on SOS succession to Governorship.  View Bayless' SOS biography.

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