By Kristen Murphy 

West Virginia Secretary of State Andrew “Mac” Warner will deliver the keynote address to graduates and guests during the 145^th Glenville State College Commencement Ceremony. He is retired from a career in the U.S. Army where he held a range of leadership and teaching positions; his highest as the Chief of International Law for the U.S. Army Europe located in Heidelberg, Germany. In November 2016, Warner won the general election against Democrat Natalie Tennant, and he’s been in office since January 16, 2017.

The West Virginia Secretary of State is an elected office within the WV state government. One of the major responsibilities is overseeing the state’s election process, including voter registration and election result reporting. Because West Virginia is one of the few states that does not have a lieutenant governor, the secretary of state takes on many of the roles that would be reserved for the governor.

The office of secretary of state is described under Article VII of the West Virginia Constitution: “The executive department shall consist of a governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture and attorney general.” To be qualified for this position, one must have residency for at least the past five years in the state, as well as being entitled to vote.

The office is a publicly elected, statewide position with elections every four years. Elections are held in November; officers assume duties the following January. There are no term limits for the office.