National Governors Association GOVERNORS OF THE AMERICAN STATES, COMMONWEALTHS AND TERRITORIES 2012 NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s, most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. NGA also provides management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent governors. Structure Each year, governors elect a chair, vice chair and nine-person Executive Committee to supervise the association’s operations on behalf of the entire membership. Bipartisanship is ensured by NGA’s Articles of Organization. The party affiliation of each committee chair rotates annually, the chair and vice chair represent different parties and the vice chair succeeds the chair. The Executive Committee is composed of four members of the chair’s party and five members of the other party. NGA maintains four standing committees—Economic Development and Commerce; Education, Early Childhood and Workforce; Health and Human Services; and Natural Resources—which enable governors to examine and develop policy and address key state and national issues. NGA also creates special ad hoc, bipartisan task forces of select governors to focus on high-priority issues for states. NGA Staff in Washington, D.C. The Office of Federal Relations ensures governors’ views are represented in the shaping of federal policy. NGA policy positions, reflecting governors’ principles on priority issues, guide the association’s endeavors to influence federal laws and regulations affecting states. The NGA Center for Best Practices develops and implements innovative solutions to public policy changes. Through the staff of the NGA Center, governors and their policy advisors can quickly learn what works, what doesn’t and what lessons can be learned; obtain assistance in designing and implementing new programs or making current programs more effective; receive up-to-date, comprehensive information about what is happening in other state capitals and Washington, D.C.; and learn about emerging national trends and their implications for states. The Office of Communications creates and coordinates the association’s communications strategies and media and public information activities to help convey timely, in-depth analysis and background information on NGA positions and issues of interest to states. The Office of Management Consulting & Training serves as a management consultant to governors and their offices and as NGA’s primary liaison to governors’ chiefs of staff. OMCT helps governors lead and manage state government and assists in organizing and operating the governor’s office. The Corporate Fellows Program promotes the exchange of information between the private sector and governors and stimulates discussion within the business community on emerging trends and factors affecting business and government. Working through NGA’s nonprofit arm, the NGA Center, the program generates a spirit of partnership through meaningful dialogue between public and private sector leaders. Alabama ROBERT BENTLEY was sworn in as governor of Alabama on January 17, 2011. Bentley is a board certified dermatologist and he served two terms as President of the Alabama Dermatology Society, which he founded. He was also selected by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America”. In 2002, Bentley was elected to the Alabama State House of Representatives from Tuscaloosa County and has served on the Education Appropriations Committee, the Boards and Commissions Committee, and the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, and has been a member of the Tuscaloosa County Legislative Delegation. Bentley received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and went on to the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Birthdate: February 3, 1943 Party: Republican Family: Married; four children Elected: November 2010 Term Expires: January 2015 Robert Bentley Dianne Bentley Alaska SEAN PARNELL was inaugurated to a full term as governor of Alaska on December 6, 2010. Parnell has served as governor of Alaska since July 26, 2009, when he assumed the office following the resignation of Governor Palin. Parnell arrived in Alaska in 1973 at the age of 10. He graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1980, going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University, as well as a doctorate of jurisprudence from University of Puget Sound School of Law (now known as Seattle University School of Law). Like his father, Parnell owned his own business for many years, a small law practice located in Anchorage. In 1992 Parnell was elected to the Alaska State House of Representatives. While serving in the House, Parnell was active as a member of the House Finance Committee and chaired numerous budget subcommittees. After serving two terms in the House, he ran for, and won, a seat in the Alaska State Senate in 1996. In the Senate, Parnell was an instrumental leader who served on the Senate Finance Committee during his first two years, and he later co-chaired the Senate's Finance Committee. In 2006 Parnell was elected as Lieutenant Governor. Parnell and his wife, Sandy, have been married for 23 years. They reside in Juneau, Alaska with their daughters, Grace and Rachel, and their dog Annie. They enjoy running, hiking, fishing, and staying active in their church and community. Birthdate: November 19, 1962 Family: Married; two children Party: Republican Succeeded: July 2009 Elected: December 2010 Term Expires: December 2014 Sean Parnell Sandra Parnell American Samoa TOGIOLA T.A. TULAFONO was born on February 28, 1947 on Aunu'u Island, American Samoa. He was educated at Samoana High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology in 1970 from Chadron State College in Nebraska, and also received a doctor of laws degree in 1975 from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas. A lawyer with approximately 20 years in private practice, Tulafono has been a policeman, administrative assistant for the secretary of Samoan affairs, Samoan assistant to the attorney general, district court judge, senator for Saole County for four years, senator for Sua County for eight years, first chairman of the board of directors for the American Samoa Power Authority, and first chairman of the Board of Higher Education. He served as lieutenant governor of American Samoa from 1997 until April 2003, when he was sworn in as governor following Governor Tauese P.F. Sunia's sudden death. Tulafono chaired the South Pacific Mini Games Committee in 1997 when the Territory hosted the regional games, and he also served as chairman for the American Samoa Centennial Committee during the 2000 celebration marking 100 years since American Samoa became a U.S. possession. Tulafono was elected as governor on November 16, 2004. He has been a deacon for more than 25 years at the Congregational Christian Church in Sa’ilele, American Samoa, and presently serves as vice chairman of the territorial church general assembly. Birthdate: February 28, 1947 Family: Married; six children Party: Democrat Succeeded: April 2003 Elected: November 2004, 2008 Term Expires: January 2013 Togiola T.A. Tulafono Mary Tulafono Arizona JANICE K. BREWER became the 22nd person to take the oath of office as governor of Arizona on January 21, 2009. She was again sworn in on January 3, 2011, following a convincing election in her own right in November 2010. Born in Hollywood, CA, she has lived in Arizona for 40 years and has spent the past 29 of them serving the people and upholding the public trust. Prior to becoming governor, she served as Arizona Secretary of State, as a Maricopa County Supervisor, and as a highly respected member of both houses of the Arizona Legislature, where she rose to a leadership position in the State Senate. Governor Brewer is married to Dr. John Brewer and is the mother of three sons, one of whom passed away in 2007. She is an active member of Life in Christ Lutheran Church in Peoria, Ariz. Birthdate: September 26, 1944 Family: Married; three children Party: Republican Succeeded: January 2009 Elected: November 2010 Term Expires: January 2015 Jan Brewer John Brewer Arkansas Since taking office in 2007, Governor MIKE BEEBE has made improving education, expanding Arkansas’s economy and cutting taxes top priorities. He has guided the state through the worst economic downturn in two generations, resulting in Arkansas being one of only four states to enter the current fiscal year without a projected budget shortfall. Arkansas has avoided the massive cuts in services and tax increases suffered by other states while achieving more than a half-billion dollars in tax relief during Governor Beebe’s first term. A champion of education and economic development, Governor Beebe has overseen Arkansas’s rise in national education rankings and the announcement of more than 26,000 new jobs. He has helped conclude the lengthy court dispute over Arkansas’s public-school system, secured the largest single capital investment in Arkansas public schools, and made record investments in higher education. He has expanded adult-education