Trey Grayson

Charles Merwin "Trey" Grayson III (born April 18, 1972) is an American politician and attorney who is currently a member at Frost Brown Todd and a principal at CivicPoint. A former Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Grayson also was a candidate in the 2010 GOP primary to replace retiring Jim Bunning, losing to Rand Paul, the Tea Party favorite for the Republicans. He later was the director of the Harvard Institute of Politics.[1] Prior to his current position, he also served as the CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Trey Grayson
Director of the Harvard Institute of Politics
In office
January 31, 2011 – June 5, 2014
Preceded byJohn Culver
Succeeded byMaggie Williams
83rd Secretary of State of Kentucky
In office
January 5, 2004 – January 29, 2011
GovernorErnie Fletcher
Steve Beshear
Preceded byJohn Brown
Succeeded byElaine Walker
Personal details
Born
Charles Merwin Grayson III

(1972-04-18) April 18, 1972
Kenton County, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Nancy Grayson
ChildrenAlexandra
Kate
Alma materHarvard University (BA)
University of Kentucky (MBA, JD)
Signature

Early life, education, and law career

A product of the Kenton County public school system, Secretary Grayson was inducted into the Kentucky Association for Academic Competition Hall of Fame for his achievements in the Governor's Cup and other academic competitions at Dixie Heights High School. Grayson was a 1989 Governor's Scholar and later served as President of the Program's Alumni Association.

Grayson went to Harvard University, where he graduated with honors in 1994 with an A.B. in government. He then returned to Kentucky, entering a JD/MBA dual-degree program at the University of Kentucky, where he was one of the first Kentucky MBA scholars and one of the first two Bert T. Combs Scholars, the College of Law's top scholarship.

After earning both degrees in 1998, he worked as an attorney with Greenebaum Doll & McDonald and later Keating, Muething & Klekamp, where he focused on estate planning and corporate law.[2]

Republican activism

Although a member of the Democratic Party during his collegiate years,[3] shortly after graduating Grayson became a member of the Republican Party, citing his conservative beliefs. However, Grayson voted for Bill Clinton during the 1992 presidential election.

In 2005, he was selected for the inaugural class of the Aspen-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership which recognizes the nation's top young elected officials. In 2004, The Council of State Governments selected him to participate in the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program, and he was recognized at the 2004 Republican National Convention by United Leaders as a "Rising Star" in the Republican Party.

In 2004, Grayson became a member of the Senior Advisory Committee to Harvard University's Institute of Politics, serving alongside U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. Grayson has served on a variety of advisory boards to several national, election-related organizations and the steering committee for the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools.[4]

Secretary Grayson's colleagues have asked him to serve in a variety of prominent national leadership positions, including chair of the Republican Association of Secretaries of State. A former NASS Treasurer, chair of the NASS Elections committee, co-chair of the NASS Presidential Primary subcommittee, vice-chair of the NASS committee on voter participation, and NASS representative on the Council of State Government Executive Committee, Grayson also serves on the NASS standing committee on business services and the NASS executive committee. Through these positions, Grayson has become a national authority on presidential primary reform and election administration.[4]

Kentucky Secretary of State

Grayson was elected Kentucky's Secretary of State in November 2003.[5] When he was sworn into office, Grayson was the youngest Secretary of State in the nation at the age of 31.[6] Grayson modernized the Office of the Secretary of State by bringing more services online, enhanced Kentucky's election laws through several legislative packages, and revived the civic mission of schools in Kentucky by leading the effort to restore civics education in the classroom.

During his first term, his office placed millions of images online and launched several new online services which tore down the bureaucratic red tape to start a business or to run for office.[4] He led a nationally recognized effort to increase the civic literacy of Kentucky's youth and helped change Kentucky's election laws, including a repeal of public financing of gubernatorial campaigns.[4]

During his first term there was a controversy involving the State Board of Elections' purging of approximately 8,000 Kentucky voters from the Kentucky voter rolls because the voters had moved out of state. Grayson and the state board of elections were defendants in a lawsuit filed by then Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo. A circuit judge ruled that the Board's actions were legal but asked Grayson to take additional steps to ensure voters would not be disenfranchised. Grayson later admitted to National Public Radio that the Office had made a technical mistake in purging some of the voters, but that the concept was important.[7]

Grayson was re-elected as Secretary of State in November 2007 by a 14-point margin. He became one of only two Republican statewide elected constitutional officers to win a second consecutive term in modern history [8]

In Grayson's second term, he has launched new services that allow companies to start businesses online, reducing by several days that amount of time it takes start a business in Kentucky. He also led the effort to modernize Kentucky's business laws, making it easier to start a business in Kentucky. His office was the first government entity in Kentucky to put its spending online so that taxpayers could hold his office accountable for how their tax dollars are being spent. He also cut spending in his office by 15%.

Grayson supported a policy change made by Democratic Governor Steve Beshear that made it easier for some convicted felons to apply to have their voting rights restored.[9] The Secretary of State's office is part of the technical process to restore voting rights, as the governor's paperwork is filed within the office. He did not support automatic restoration of voting rights to all convicted felons.

Grayson administered the $37 million Kentucky received in Federal funds to implement the Help America Vote Act (HAVA),[10] as well the $169,755 grant from the Federal Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (EAID).[11] These funds allowed every Kentucky county to purchase a new machine for every precinct.

2010 U.S. Senate election
Grayson campaigning for U.S. Senate in December 2009.

On January 14, 2010, Trey Grayson filed for the 2010 US Senate GOP primary in Kentucky against Rand Paul. He lost by a 23-point margin.[12]

Endorsements

Grayson garnered endorsements from Senator Mitch McConnell, former Vice President Dick Cheney, former presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, Senator Rick Santorum, Representative Hal Rogers, and several members of Kentucky's State Legislators.[13]

In late April, Focus on the Family's founder James Dobson endorsed Grayson saying he was the only candidate with the conviction to lead Kentucky.[14] A week later, however, claiming to have been misled by senior Republican officials about Paul's stance on abortion, Dobson rescinded his endorsement of Grayson and endorsed Paul.[15] Although Dobson did not claim Grayson was complicit in misleading him, two days later Paul aired commercials claiming that Grayson along with other GOP leaders "deliberately deceived one of America's leading conservatives, Dr. James Dobson." The ads were later removed.[16]

Results

With complete, but uncertified, reports from all but one of Kentucky's 120 counties, Grayson lost the election by a 23.33% margin to Rand Paul; winning 124,710 votes compared to Paul who won 206,812 votes.[17]

After conceding the election to Mr. Paul, Grayson said, "It's time to put all differences aside, unite behind Dr. Paul, he needs our help and I for one stand ready to serve".[18] Grayson also downplayed the Tea Party movement support for Paul following his defeat by saying, "I think there are just so many things at work here-- it's hard to pinpoint it. I think the tea party [vs.] conservative establishment thing is a little too simplistic."[18]

Recent career

It was announced on January 7, 2011 that Grayson would resign from the office of Secretary of State to accept a position at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.[1] He became the Director of the Harvard Institute of Politics. Governor Steve Beshear named Bowling Green, Kentucky Mayor Elaine Walker as Grayson's replacement. Grayson's resignation became effective January 29, 2011.

At Harvard, Grayson oversaw many nationally recognized studies of political shifts between different blocks of voters, especially millennials. He was also a frequent moderator of school panels and lectures given by many of the nation's top leaders.

In 2012, Grayson joined Gabrielle Gifford's "Gabby PAC" as co-chairman.[19]

In April 2014, it was announced that Grayson would be resigning from Harvard University effective June 30.[20]

On May 21, 2014, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce announced Grayson would become the president and CEO of the organization, effective July 1.[21]

In May 2017, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce announced Grayson would be resigning as the president and CEO effective June 9.[22]

Later that year, in September, Frost Brown Todd announced that Grayson would be joining their team as a member and a principal for CivicPoint, the firm's public affairs affiliate.[23]

In June 2020, Grayson participated in the Transition Integrity Project, a group which considered scenarios for a contested presidential election in the fall.[24]

gollark: Or invent "standard lateness units" relative to some sort of poll for local day/night cycles.
gollark: So we just need to standardize "quite late", "very late", and "highly late" or something.
gollark: That is only descriptive *relative to local expectations of lateness*.
gollark: Or "it is late here".
gollark: So just say "it's night".

References
  1. "The Courier-Journal".
  2. Kentucky Secretary of State (September 8, 2009) "Secretary of State Trey Grayson Biography" Archived January 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 26, 2010.
  3. Brammer, Jack (2009-07-29). "Some conservatives wary of Grayson". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-01-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "Kentucky Secretary of State" Retrieved on June 24, 2010.
  5. Friends of Trey Grayson (January 26, 2010) "About Trey" Archived 2009-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Friends of Trey Grayson. Retrieved on January 26, 2010.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Kentucky State Board of Elections, Retrieved 01-27-2010
  7. National Public Radio (October 9, 2006) "Kentucky Grapples with Confusion on Voter Lists", National Public Radio. Retrieved on January 28, 2010.
  8. Associated Press (November 6, 2007) Archived 2009-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, "Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson Wins Re-Election". Retrieved on April 27, 2010.
  9. Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office (March 4, 2008) Archived 2011-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, "Governor Beshear Helps Restore Rights to Kentuckians". Retrieved on April 27, 2010.
  10. Kentucky Secretary of State (October 15, 2005)"Kentucky is Meeting New Elections Standards" Archived 2010-05-22 at the Wayback Machine. Hatch Act violation 1. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  11. Kentucky Secretary of State (July 13, 2004)"Secretary of State Trey Grayson Announces the Receipt of the Federal Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (EAID) Grant". Hatch Act violation 2. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  12. "KY - Election Results". results.enr.clarityelections.com.
  13. "Endorsements". Trey Grayson for US Senate. Archived from the original on May 6, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  14. "James Dobson Endorses Grayson". Cincinnati Enquirer (26 April 2010). Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  15. William Upton. "Dobson Dumps Grayson; Endorses Paul. American Conservative (3 May 2010). Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  16. "Rand Paul--My Kind of Man" YouTube. (undated) retrieved 5 May 2010.
  17. Kentucky State Board of Elections (May 18, 2010). 2010 Primary Election Results (Unofficial) Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  18. Cate Slattery. (May 18, 2010) "Grayson Concedes Early" Archived May 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine WTVQ News. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. "IOP Director Trey Grayson Announces Resignation | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com.
  21. Benschoten, Amanda Van. "Trey Grayson named NKY Chamber President". Cincinnati.com.
  22. "Trey Grayson Leaving Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Brent Cooper to Serve as Interim President & CEO | Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce". www.nkychamber.com.
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-07-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. Bidgood, Jess. "A bipartisan group secretly gathered to game out a contested Trump-Biden election. It wasn't pretty". Boston Globe. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
John Brown		 Secretary of State of Kentucky
2004–2011		 Succeeded by
Elaine Walker
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