Elaine Walker
Prior offices
Kentucky Secretary of State
Elaine Nogay Walker is a former Democratic Kentucky Secretary of State. She was named to the statewide executive position by Democratic Governor Steve Beshear on Friday, January 7th, 2011, after Trey Grayson announced that he was resigning to become director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.[1] Walker was officially sworn into office three weeks later on Saturday, January 29th.[2] Before becoming secretary of state, Walker served as mayor of Bowling Green, KY, from 2005 to 2011.
Walker's tenure ended in 2011, following the conclusion of the November General elections. She was defeated in the 2011 Democratic primary by Alison Lundergan Grimes, an attorney and former President of the Fayette County Women's Lawyers Association. Grimes defeated Walker, capturing 55.25 percent of the vote and went on to win the general election in November.[3]
Biography
Elaine Nogay was born August 6, 1951, to William Nogay, a decorated U.S. Air Force pilot, and his wife, Mary.[4][5] Walker's family initially "moved around a great deal," but eventually settled in Washington, D.C.[5] Walker subsequently earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.[6] Her first job was as a receptionist in the office of Republican congressman John Saylor.[7] Later, she worked as a legislative/press aide for Saylor and his GOP colleague, E.G. "Bud" Shuster.[6] While working in Washington, she met her husband, film director and producer C. Dorian Walker.[5]
In 1979, Walker and her husband moved to Los Angeles, California.[5] She worked as a staffer in the office of Los Angeles city councilman Pat Russell. Afterwards, she took a job as public affairs director for local television station KCAL-TV.[5]
In 1993, the family decided to look for a new place to raise their children, and chose Bowling Green, KY because it was "family friendly."[8] After their move, Walker and her husband started a small film production business, Peridot Pictures Corporation.[5]
In 2004, Walker ran for and was elected mayor of Bowling Green. In January 2011, Governor Steve Beshear appointed Walker to fill the term of departing Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who had resigned to accept a position as Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.[9]
Political career
Kentucky Secretary of State
Upon the resignation of Secretary of State Trey Grayson in January 2011, Governor Steve Beshear appointed Walker to fill the remainder of his term.[10] She immediately is running for a full four year term during the November 2011 general election.[2]
Walker claimed credit, as secretary of state, for modifying and helping push Senate Bill 8, subsequently signed into law by Governor Beshear, that created a "One Stop Shop" for businesses to interact with all government agencies.[11] She worked with the Department of Local Government to train county clerks and other election management officials online, which saved the state money on travel and accommodations.[5]
Mayor of Bowling Green, KY
Walker was elected mayor of Bowling Green for the first time in 2004, and was inaugurated in 2005. She served as mayor until January 2011, when she was appointed secretary of state. During her time as mayor, she brought the Mayors Dollarwi$e Campaign, a financial literacy outreach program sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, to the city.[10] Walker also sponsored a new city government initiative, "Energize Bowling Green," to encourage Bowling Green residents to eat better and exercise.[12]
Issue positions
In several interviews and questionnaires, Walker emphasized the importance of streamlining voting and business registration systems in Kentucky. She claimed that her office as secretary of state completed the process, begun under Secretary of State John Y. Brown III, of allowing businesses to conduct new filings online.[5] She has also pointed to the development of the web-based Business One Stop as an example of her commitment to more efficient business registration.
Walker also drew attention to efforts to improve voting processes. She said that she has met with county clerks around the state to determine best practices in election management.[5] She believed low voter turnout is "an embarrassment," and announced she would conduct a review of the "safety strengths and weaknesses of the six voting systems being used in the Commonwealth."[11]
She has said that she believes convicted felons, once they have served their time, should have their right to vote restored.[2] She also wanted to allow the secretary of state's office to assist victims of domestic violence "with other registrations to make sure their information remains private."[11]
Elections
2011
- See also: Kentucky secretary of state election, 2011
Walker sought election to a full four-year term as secretary of state in 2011, following her vacancy appointment to the position in 2010. She was challenged in the 2011 Democratic primary by Alison Lundergan Grimes, an attorney and former President of the Fayette County Women's Lawyers Association. Grimes defeated Walker handily, capturing 55.25 percent of the vote.[3]
| Kentucky Secretary of State -- Democratic Primary (2011)
|
| Candidates
|
Votes
|
Percent
|
 Alison Lundergan Grimes (D)
|
85,418
|
55.25%
|
| Elaine Walker (D)
|
69,192
|
44.75%
|
Campaign finance
2011
As of September 2, 2011, the breakdown of Walker's campaign finances in her unsuccessful campaign to remain Kentucky Secretary of State was as follows:
| Elaine Walker Campaign Finance Reports -- Primary Election[13]
|
| Report
|
Date Filed
|
Beginning Balance
|
Contributions
|
Expenditures
|
Cash on Hand
|
| Total
|
---
|
---
|
$185,435.30
|
$176,685.57
|
---
|
| 60-Day Post-Primary
|
7/16/2011
|
$396.11
|
$300.00
|
$204.29
|
$491.82
|
| 30-Day Post-Primary
|
6/16/2011
|
$94,036.27
|
$61,190.00
|
$154,830.16
|
$396.11
|
| 15-Day Pre-Primary
|
5/2/2011
|
$79,269.38
|
$23,025.00
|
$8,258.11
|
$94,036.27
|
| 32-Day Pre-Primary
|
4/15/2011[14]
|
$0.00
|
$100,920.50
|
$21,651.12
|
$79,269.38
|
2008
Below is an account of Walker's finances in her successful re-election campaign as mayor of Bowling Green, KY.
| Elaine Walker, 2nd Campaign -- Mayor of Bowling Green[15]
|
| Report
|
Date Filed
|
Beginning Balance
|
Contributions
|
Expenditures
|
Cash on Hand
|
| 60-Day Post-Election
|
1/3/2009
|
$3,486.24
|
$0.00
|
$3,486.24
|
$0.00
|
| 30-Day Post-General
|
12/4/2008
|
$12,216.56
|
$2,700.00
|
$11,430.32
|
$3,486.24
|
| 15-Day Pre-General
|
10/20/2008
|
$13,958.95
|
$0.00
|
$1,742.39
|
$12,216.56
|
| 32-Day Pre-General
|
10/3/2008
|
$0.00
|
$16,748.95
|
$2,790.00
|
$13,958.95
|
| 60-Day Post-Primary
|
7/19/2008
|
$3,021.73
|
$850.00
|
$3,871.73
|
$0.00
|
| 30-Day Post-Primary
|
6/19/2008
|
$4,544.92
|
$900.00
|
$2,423.19
|
$3,021.73
|
| 15-Day Pre-Primary
|
5/5/2008
|
$4,265.32
|
$650.00
|
$370.40
|
$4,544.92
|
| 32-Day Pre-Primary
|
4/18/2008
|
$0.00
|
$8,335.00
|
$4,069.68
|
$4,265.32
|
2004
Below is an account of Walker's finances in her successful campaign for mayor of Bowling Green, KY.
| Elaine Walker, 1st Campaign -- Mayor of Bowling Green[15]
|
| Report
|
Date Filed
|
Beginning Balance
|
Contributions
|
Expenditures
|
Cash on Hand
|
| 60-Day Post-General
|
1/1/2005
|
$212.61
|
$302.92
|
$515.53
|
$0.00
|
| 30-Day Post-General
|
12/2/2004
|
$1,837.43
|
$14,295.00
|
$15,919.82
|
$212.61
|
| 15-Day Pre-General
|
10/18/2004
|
$5,886.64
|
$7,052.81
|
$11,102.38
|
$1,837.07
|
| 32-Day Pre-General
|
10/1/2004
|
$3,644.44
|
$10,585.00
|
$8,342.36
|
$5,886.64
|
| 30-Day Post-Primary
|
6/17/2004
|
$6,339.44
|
$600.00
|
$3,295.00
|
$3,644.44
|
| 15-Day Pre-Primary
|
5/3/2004
|
$7,546.27
|
$450.00
|
$1,656.83
|
$6,339.44
|
| 32-Day Pre-Primary
|
4/16/2004
|
$0.00
|
$8,390.00
|
$843.73
|
$7,546.27
|
Awards
- Angel Award of Merit (1989)
- Editorial Award (1990) from the Los Angeles Press Club
- Parents Choice Award (1992)
- International Cindy Award (1993)
- Angel Silver Award (1993)
Contact information
Capitol Address:
Office of the Secretary of State
The Capitol Building
700 Capital Avenue
Suite 152
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-3490
Fax: (502) 564-5687
See also
External links
- ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Bowling Green mayor to replace Trey Grayson as secretary of state" 8 Jan. 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bowling Green Daily News, "Elaine Walker sworn in as secretary of state" 29 Jan. 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 [http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/KY/29019/45171/en/summary.html Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2011 Election results," May 17, 2011
- ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Primary election features lively battles for secretary of state," May 9, 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 The Lebanon Enterprise, "Secretary of State Candidate Questionnaire - Elaine Walker," April 13, 2011
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Project VoteSmart, "Profile of Elaine Walker," accessed May 11, 2011
- ↑ Elaine for Kentucky, "Meet Elaine," accessed May 11, 2011
- ↑ Bowling Green Daily News (Bowling Green, KY), "Walker, Grimes discuss duties during first debate," April 19, 2011
- ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Bowling Green mayor to replace Trey Grayson as secretary of state" 8 Jan. 2011
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kentucky Secretary of State, Biography of Elaine Walker," accessed May 13, 2011
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 KentuckyElection.org, "Questionnaire of Elaine Walker," accessed May 13, 2011
- ↑ City of Bowling Green, "Health Communities Announcement," accessed May 13, 2011
- ↑ Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, "Candidate Searches," accessed September 2, 2011
- ↑ Amended on 5/3/2011
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
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