By JAN GRIFFEY/Editor

Shelby County’s own Beth Chapman was elected Tuesday to a second term as Alabama’s Secretary of State.

Chapman earned 63 percent of ballots cast statewide, topping Democratic opponent Scott Gilliland.

While other successful candidates Tuesday night celebrated their victories, Chapman and her staff were busy at work, making certain the state’s election went smoothly.

���We had a job to do, and that was to ensure a fair and honest election across the state,” she said. “The election was super. Things went very smoothly.”

Chapman said the success of the Republican Party in Tuesday’s election in Alabama is historic.

“The biggest surprise of the night was the Republican tsunami. It went beyond anything anyone thought even possible. Some of the biggest names in the house and senate — people who have been serving 20 or 30 years — are no more.”

She said every constitutional officer in Alabama, 62 of the 105 members of the

State House, 22 of 35 members in the State Senate and eight of nine members of the State Supreme Court are Republican.

“Even when Democrats had control of the Senate the last couple of years, votes were 18 to 17.  Now, Republicans control that with 22 members.  I mean, there’s not even going to be any filibustering,” Chapman said.

What that means to the Secretary of State’s office is likely passage of legislation aimed at making voting more accessible and fair, like military voting, photo identification requirement for voters and stiffer penalties for voter fraud and misuse of absentee ballots.

Chapman was first elected Secretary of State in 2006 after serving four years as State Auditor.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Montevallo and her master’s degree from UAB.

Chapman and her husband, James, and family live in Shelby County.