Meet Your CSG Leaders

CSG National President

KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY

Laura Kelly, the 48th governor of Kansas, will serve as The Council of State Governments national president in 2020. “It truly is an honor to serve as National President of The Council of State Governments,” Kelly said. “CSG offers outstanding opportunities for state officials nationwide. By working with and learning from others across the country, we are better positioned to create innovative strategies and chart a healthier path forward in Kansas.” Kelly served in the Kansas Senate for four terms — from 2005 to 2019 — representing the 18th district where she served as the Ranking Minority member of the Ways and Means Committee and as the Senate Assistant Minority Leader.

“I had the privilege of participating in the Henry Toll Fellowship Program through CSG.… ...[It] was a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and networking with state officials from diverse backgrounds. A decade later, I continue to draw on my experience as a Toll Fellow.”

During her time in the Senate, Kelly advocated for fiscally responsible, balanced budgets that reflected Kansas community priorities including schools, health care, roads and public safety. “The priorities of my administration align with the values of the CSG as we work to pursue policy that advances the common good through bipartisanship and inclusivity.” Prior to her time in state government, Kelly worked in the health care field with an emphasis in mental health. She was also the long-time leader of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association. Laura and her husband live in Topeka and have been married for 37 years. They have two grown daughters, Kathleen and Molly.

DID YOU KNOW?

KELLY WAS BORN IN NEW YORK CITY. Kelly has two daughters, Kathleen and Molly. KELLY IS THE 48TH GOVERNOR OF KANSAS AND THE STATE’S THIRD FEMALE GOVERNOR. She has degrees in psychology and therapeutic recreation.

Washington state Sen. Sam Hunt continues his important role in CSG’s national leadership as the chair-elect in 2020. Hunt was elected to represent the 22nd District of the Washington Senate in 2016 after serving 16 years in its House of Representatives. Hunt has been an active member of CSG for many years and serves on the Smart Government Subcommittee of the CSG Future of Work National Task Force. The task force is surveying emerging trends and best practices in workforce issues. During the 2020 CSG National Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the task force will release its final report, which will serve as a resource for the states.

“If you want to be up to date with what is happening in state government, CSG is your best resource. It provides legislators with the opportunity to get to know and work with leaders in their region and across the country.”

In his home state, Hunt is the chair of the State Government, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee and is also a member of the Ways and Means and Early Learning & K-12 Education committees. In addition, he chairs the Legislative Oral History Advisory Committee and serves on the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee and the Washington-Hyogo Friendship Council. A former member of the Washington State Historical Society Board of Trustees, Hunt volunteers with the National Institute for Civil Discourse, working to promote and improve civility among members of state legislatures. In 2017, Hunt chaired CSG West before being appointed to the CSG national leadership team in 2018. A graduate of Washington State University, Hunt was a schoolteacher before beginning his public service work. He lives in Olympia with his family.

CSG National Chair-Elect

WASHINGTON STATE SENATOR SAM HUNT

Hunt taught school in Pasco and Montesano before running for public office. HE SERVED AS THE EDUCATION ADVISOR TO GOV. BOOTH GARDNER. The 22nd District of Washington includes the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Turnwater and the unincorporated Thurston County, including Cooper Point, Boston Harbor, Johnson Point and part of the Nisqually Delta. HUNT, HIS WIFE AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVE IN OLYMPIA.

DID YOU KNOW?

Meet your CSG Leaders

CSG National Vice-Chair

NORTH CAROLINA STATE REPRESENTATIVE JULIA HOWARD

North Carolina state Rep. Julia Howard will serve as CSG national vice-chair in 2020. Howard represents District 77, which includes Forsythe County and her current home, Davie County. In 2018, she was elected to her 16th two-year term in the state’s House of Representatives. Before representing District 77, Howard served constituents in North Carolina’s District 79 for 30 years. Howard is passionate about policies that impact families and has chaired several legislative committees, including the House Ethics Committee, the House Committee on Banking and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Unemployment Insurance. During her time in the North Carolina House of Representatives, Howard has dedicated herself to issues including welfare reform, overhauling the state’s unemployment insurance system, small business issues and child protection laws. During the Great Recession of 2008, North Carolina quickly exhausted its unemployment trust fund and amassed debt to the federal government in excess of $2.7 billion. To avoid substantial and damaging federal unemployment tax increases on small businesses, Howard authored and successfully led to passage legislation restructuring North Carolina’s unemployment system for both employees and employers. She also worked to pass Jessica’s Law, legislation that provides children with new protections against sex offenders. Howard is a graduate of Salem College.

DID YOU KNOW?

Howard is a licensed real estate broker and appraiser and owns and operates Howard Realty in Davie County. SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN AND SIX GRANDCHILDREN. Howard is serving her 16th two-year term in the North Carolina House of Representatives.