Grayson expected to secure NASS presidency

Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) is expected to be nominated for the presidency of the National Association of Secretaries of State during that organization's summer conference this weekend. With no competition for that post announced, Grayson should secure the position for a term that would begin in 2009.

"It's gratifying and humbling to think that my colleagues would ask me to lead this organization," Grayson told PolitickerKY.com.

NASS is a non-partisan organization which counts all 50 Secretaries of State as members. Grayson currently serves as the group's treasurer, a position that historically is a launching pad to the NASS presidency. He also co-chairs the groups' subcommittee on presidential primaries.

The NASS presidency rotates from a Democrat to a Republican each year. Assuming all goes according to plan this weekend, Grayson will assume the official title of "president-elect" from Pedro Cortes (D-Pa.) at the conclusion of the NASS conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cortes will then take the reins as president from Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) until this time next year, when Grayson will assume that role.

Grayson first became active in NASS after his Democratic predecessor, John Y. Brown, III, encouraged him to do so to learn more about different perspectives on the duties associated with the Secretary of State position from across the nation.

Grayson says NASS is a "great vehicle" for getting a national perspective on those issues, and he notes he has been very active in the organization since joining.

"I worked my way up through leadership on committees and expressed my interest in different positions," said Grayson.

Counting current NASS President Rokita and President-elect Cortes as his closest friends in NASS, Grayson will follow them into the top position of the organization focusing on many of the issues which he has already worked on since he first joined.

Grayson intends to keep his co-chair position on the presidential primaries committee to continue pushing a plan to reform the primary system. That issue has been a major target for Grayson, who has attended a Harvard University symposium on primary reform and testified before Congress on the subject.

He also plans on advocating for primary reform at rules committee meetings held in conjunction with the Republican National Convention next month in Minneapolis. While Grayson supports a rotating regional primary system, he said the variation of that plan to be considered at those meetings is "better than the status quo."

He noted this primary reform has historically been a major concern for NASS - a group consisting of primarily of states' chief elections officers.

"It's an issue we're really passionate about as an institution," said Grayson. "It's been one of the big initiatives of NASS for ten-plus years and I suspect it will be until progress is made."

Grayson said he also hopes to push for "renewed civic education in the classroom" during his time leading the NASS. But noted election-related issues will consume considerable resources as well.

"A lot of time is going to be spent fixing whatever problems ailed us on election day," said Grayson.

With four years between presidential elections, Grayson said he believed any issues that emerge in 2008 balloting can be stamped out with a concerted effort before 2012 rolls around.

As future leader of the NASS, Grayson says the organization can use the advantage of a Washington D.C. headquarters to educate both other Secretaries of State and Members of Congress on pertinent issues, as potential reform proposals are floated on the federal and state levels.

"We need to be part of the dialogue so members of Congress understand the impact any change can have," said Grayson.

Already a rumored 2011 gubernatorial candidate, Grayson's political profile will obviously receive a boost from the national position. He notes, as NASS president, he expects to be asked to provide commentary on issues related to elections for media outlets.

Aside from that, Grayson says his ascension to the NASS presidency reflects well on Kentucky, which he argues has been a national leader in innovation in its elections.

"It's a reflection of the state and how well we've done," said Grayson. "It's a real compliment."