Wyman begins second term as Washington Secretary of State
Secretary Wyman with former Secretaries of State Sam Reed (left) and Ralph Munro at her ceremonial swearing-in. (Photo courtesy of Laura Mott)
Kim Wyman began her second term as Washington’s 15th Secretary of State after being sworn into office before a joint legislative session Wednesday.
Wyman took the oath of office from Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu shortly after noon on Wednesday, receiving cheers at a joint session of the House and Senate when she was called up to the rostrum for her swearing-in. She smiled as she took the time-honored oath to uphold the constitution and laws of the United States and Washington and to perform her new duties to the best of her ability.
Secretary Wyman hugs her husband, John, after taking the oath of office from Supreme Court Justice Yu. (Photo courtesy Legislative Photograph Department)
Wyman was joined on the rostrum by her husband and their son.
The midday joint legislative session also included Gov. Jay Inslee’s State of the State speech after he was given the oath of office by Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst.
A different view of Secretary Wyman taking the oath of office from Justice Yu as other justices, statewide officials, legislators and visitors watch. (Photo courtesy of Legislative Photograph Department)
Seven other statewide officials also were sworn in, including newly elected Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib, Auditor Pat McCarthy, Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Treasurer Duane Davidson, and the newly re-elected Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. With Wyman, McCarthy and Franz now in office, this is the first time Washington has had at least three female executive statewide officials since 1997, when the state had four: Attorney General Chris Gregoire, Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn, Lands Commissioner Jennifer Belcher and Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson.
Grammy Award-winning artist Judy Collins sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” during the ceremony.
Wyman held a ceremonial swearing-in and program later that afternoon for about 100 family members and friends in the State Reception Room, including former Secretaries of State Ralph Munro and Sam Reed. During her speech, Wyman emphasized civility and bipartisanship.
Former OSOS Communications Director David Ammons emceed the event. Former Gov. Dan Evans provided remarks, and Thurston County District Court Judge Kalo Wilcox administered the oath of office to Wyman.
Wyman is only the second woman Secretary of State in Washington history, and the first female Republican Secretary in the Evergreen State.
Prior to becoming Secretary of State in 2013, Wyman was Thurston County Auditor for 12 years.
2 thoughts on “Wyman begins second term as Washington Secretary of State”
I’m sending this because I do believe we have a flawed voting registration issue.
Maybe, no one has ever reported an issue before but I will. Many years ago, a young woman, who had registered to vote, lived at our home for a period of time. A few years later she became a married woman and chose to change her last name to her husbands. To this day we still receive her voter ballot in the mail in her maiden name. We are honest people here, so we choose not to use her ballot,and either give it to her or throw it away. Her name doesn’t exist any longer. She said she has contacted someone about this, but we still get the ballot.
Imagine, if this is happening to us, how many others are receiving ballots of people who don’t exist any longer, and if so how many are honest or dishonest and use that ballot and forge the name. I may not care for President Trumps personality but I tend to believe he has a point. After all we got 3 ballots for only two registered voters. In our opinion the system does have issues.
Hi Kathy – Thanks for the comment about the woman who received her ballot as addressed to her maiden name, not her married name. A quick and easy way for her to correct the problem is to go on our Elections Division’s “My Vote” program and update her voter registration information, including her current name. Here is a link to MyVote: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/login . – Brian Zylstra, Deputy Communications Director, Office of Secretary of State
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