Chris Nelson (politician)
Chris Nelson | |
---|---|
Commissioner of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission | |
Assumed office January 8, 2011 | |
Governor | Dennis Daugaard |
Preceded by | Dusty Johnson |
Secretary of State of South Dakota | |
In office 2003–2011 | |
Governor | Mike Rounds |
Preceded by | Joyce Hazeltine |
Succeeded by | Jason Gant |
Personal details | |
Born |
Mitchell, South Dakota, U.S. | August 18, 1964
Political party | Republican |
Alma mater | South Dakota State University |
Chris Nelson (born August 18, 1964) is an American politician and current South Dakota Public Utilities Commission member and former Secretary of State of South Dakota. A Republican, he was a candidate to become U.S. Representative from South Dakota's At-large congressional district in 2010 but lost to Kristi Noem in the Republican primary.
Career
Nelson gained prominence as a key constitutional figure in any possible replacement of Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, who suffered stroke-like bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation known as arteriovenous malformation.
In the event of the office being "vacant" (through death or incapacitation; the definition and meaning of which is subject to various interpretations by constitutional law experts[1]), South Dakota law provides for the governor to name a replacement. Johnson declined to run for re-election for health reasons[2] and was succeeded by the former Governor of South Dakota Mike Rounds, a Republican.
Awards
As secretary of state, Nelson received the 2010 Excellent Service to South Dakota County Officials award from the South Dakota County Officials Association; the 2004 Hazeltine/Taylor award from South Dakota Kids Voting; and the 2003 Excellence in South Dakota Municipal Government award from the South Dakota Municipal League. In 2005, he was appointed as a National Governors Association representative on the United States Election Assistance Commission Board of Advisors.[3]
References
- ↑ Jonathan Ellis, S.D. governor would name person to fill Johnson vacancy, usatoday.com; accessed January 2, 2017.
- ↑ South Dakota U.S. Senator In Critical Condition After Surgery, abclocal.go.com, December 14, 2006.
- ↑ "Commissioner Chris Nelson".
External links