MEDIA RELEASE: Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate takes oath for fourth term; announces leadership team

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate took his official oath of office for his fourth term on January 13 in the Rotunda of the Iowa Capitol Building. Upon taking his oath of office, Secretary Pate has become the second longest serving Secretary of State in Iowa history.

Secretary Pate has dedicated his life to public service. Now in his fourth term as Secretary of State and Iowa's Commissioner of Elections, he is guided by three core principles: service, participation, and integrity.

"It's an honor to continue to serve the people of Iowa as your Secretary of State," Secretary Pate said during his swearing in ceremony on Friday. "I've brought together a talented team that will provide excellent services to constituents across all 99 counties. Whether you're registering to vote or setting up a business for the first time, you can count on us to carry out our mission of service, participation, and integrity."

During Secretary Pate's last three terms he's revolutionized the office by catapulting it into the 21st century. Some examples of his leadership are modernization of the business services division by implementing Fast Track Filing in 2018, collaboration with the Legislature to launch Safe at Home, an address confidentially program for victims of certain violent crime in Iowa, and the launch of Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) in 2022.

During his tenure, Secretary Pate has also instituted online voter registration and created an opportunity for eligible 17-year-olds to register to vote in Iowa. He is a past-president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and currently serves as a Co-Chair of the NASS Election Committee. Under his leadership, Iowa is ranked one of the top three states in election administration according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Pate is a nationally recognized small business leader, a father of three and grandfather of five. He and his wife Jane live in Cedar Rapids.

The following is a list of Department Leadership:

Michael Ross, Deputy Secretary and Chief of Staff. Ross previously served in Secretary Pate's first administration from 1995-1998. He is the former Chief Operations Officer for Christ for the City International and was founder of Urban Plunge, a social service organization focused on the needs of individuals in under-resourced communities.

Christy Johnson, Deputy Secretary. Johnson has served as the Safe at Home Administrator for four years and was promoted to her position in August of 2022. She is currently serving as the Vice President of the National Association of Confidential Address Programs. Johnson achieved her Master's of Public Administration from Troy University and her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University.

Eric Gookin, Chief Operating Officer. Gookin has served as the Chief Operating Officer since 2018. Gookin earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration from Drake University Law School in 2015. He also sits on the Government Practice Section Council of the Iowa Bar Association.

Heidi Burhans, Director of Elections. Burhans has served as the state's election director since February 2019 and is the Chairwoman of the Iowa Voter Registration Commission. She is a former Madison County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections and is a graduate of Roosevelt University and Leadership Iowa.

Kevin Hall, Communications Director and Public Information Officer. Hall has served in this role since 2015. Previously, he has been a television anchor, reporter, radio host, political analyst and consultant. Hall is a graduate of East Carolina University.

Kyle Phillips, Chief Information Officer. Phillips has more than 30 years experience in the information technology and cyber security fields. He has served in the Secretary of State's Office since 2001 and is a 1989 graduate of Iowa State University.

Carl Dietz, Director of Business Services. Dietz has been with the Secretary of State's Office since 2019. He became a Certified Public Manager (CPM) in December of 2022. He earned his Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 2015 and was in private law practice prior to joining the Secretary of State's Office.

A headshot of Secretary Pate is available for your use at this link.

A photo of Secretary Pate being sworn in by Justice David May of the Iowa Supreme Court is available for your use at this link.

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