OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Former Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge has been appointed secretary of state.
Governor Mary Fallin announced the appointment Wednesday. Benge will start the position on November 8th. The Senate must still confirm the appointment.
As secretary of state, Benge will be a senior adviser to Fallin on policy, economic and legislative issues.
Benge, a Republican from Tulsa, was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1998 and served until 2010.
Benge also served as an adviser to Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett. He has been senior vice president of government affairs at the Tulsa Regional Chamber since August 2011.
He replaces Larry Parman, who has been appointed to serve as the director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and as secretary of commerce.