Introduction
Ben T. Ysursa (born June 10, 1949) is the former Secretary of State of Idaho, United States. He was elected on the Republican Party ticket.
Family
Ysursa is married and has three children with his wife, Penny. They also have two grandchildren.
Education
Ysursa graduated from Bishop Kelly High School (1967) and Gonzaga University (1971). He attained his law degree from St. Louis University Law School (1974) and was admitted to the Idaho State Bar in 1974.
Career
From 1974 to 2003, Ysursa served in the Idaho Secretary of State office under his predecessor, Pete T. Cenarrusa. He held the positions of Deputy Secretary of State (1974 - 1976) and Chief Deputy Secretary of State (1976-2003).
Ysursa was elected Secretary of State in 2002 with 77.5 percent of the vote.
He was reelected unopposed in 2006.
In 2010 Ysursa was elected to a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Mack Sermon with 74.3 percent of the vote.
Ysursa did not seek reelection in 2014. He was succeeded by Lawerence Denney.
Awards
- "Boyd Martin Award" from the Association of Idaho Cities
- Recipient for Outstanding Administrator (1992) from the Idaho Republican Party.
Service on Committees
- Board of Land Commissioners (member)
- Board of Examiners (member)
- Board of Canvassers (chairman)
- Land Board briefing committee (member)
- Board of Examiners sub-committee (member)
- various state and city committees (member)