Kim Wyman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Wyman
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15th Secretary of State of Washington | |
In office January 16, 2013 – November 19, 2021 |
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Governor | Jay Inslee |
Preceded by | Sam Reed |
Succeeded by | Steve Hobbs |
Personal details | |
Born |
Kimberley Marie Wyman
July 15, 1962 Southern California, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
John Wyman
(m. 1988) |
Children | 2 |
Education | California State University, Long Beach (BA) Troy University (MPA) |
Kimberley Marie Wyman, born on July 15, 1962, is an American politician. She served as the 15th Secretary of State of Washington from 2013 to 2021. The Secretary of State is a very important job in a state government. This person is in charge of elections, keeping official records, and registering businesses.
Kim Wyman left her role as Secretary of State on November 19, 2021. She took on a new job helping with election security. This work is for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the United States government. Kim Wyman was the last Republican to hold a statewide office in Washington State. She was also the last Republican to hold such an office in any of the three states along the West Coast.
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Early Life and Education
Kim Wyman went to college at California State University, Long Beach. After she graduated, she lived in other countries for a while. While living in Germany, she found it hard to vote in U.S. elections. This experience made her want to work as an elections official.
She later earned a special degree called a Master of Public Administration from Troy University. Kim Wyman was also one of the first public officials to become a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator. This means she had special training in how to run elections.
Political Career
In 2001, Kim Wyman started her political career. She was chosen to be the Thurston County Auditor. The County Auditor handles many important tasks for the county, including elections and financial records. She was then elected to this position in 2002. Voters chose her again in 2006 and 2010.
Becoming Secretary of State
In 2012, Kim Wyman ran for Secretary of State for Washington. She won the election, becoming the 15th person to hold this important job. She beat her opponent, Kathleen Drew, by a small number of votes. Kim Wyman was the only Republican to win a statewide office in Washington that year.
Many newspapers supported her during the election. These included the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and The Seattle Times. They liked her because she had experience with elections. They also noted that she could work well with people from different political parties. Even the Washington Education Association, which usually supports Democrats, endorsed her.
Re-election and New Role
Kim Wyman was re-elected as Secretary of State in 2016. She won against Tina Podlodowski with 55% of the votes. She was elected for a third term in 2020, winning with 54% of the votes.
On October 27, 2021, Kim Wyman announced she would leave her role. She decided to join the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. In this new job, she helps make sure elections are safe and secure. Her resignation became official on November 19, 2021.
Personal Life
Kim Wyman lives in Lacey, Washington, with her husband, John. They have two children together. She enjoys running and has completed several marathons. In 2017, she was diagnosed with an early form of colon cancer.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Kim Wyman para niños