Election Technology Council Announces David Beirne as New Executive Director.

Industry Trade Association Hires Former Election Administrator to Direct Its Education Efforts Related to Voting Equipment and Election Reform Issues

HOUSTON -- The Election Technology Council (ETC), a non-profit Trade Association comprised of election technology providers, is announcing the hiring of David Beirne as the organization's new Executive Director.

Since its formation in 2003, the ETC has worked to provide a unified voice for its election industry member companies to educate federal and state governments, legislators, national media and other election community constituents on issues related to election technology. Originally under the umbrella of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), the ETC will now operate independently, still retaining its non-profit status, and directed by Beirne beginning on June 1st.

"I am very excited to begin my work with the Election Technology Council," said Beirne. "As someone who has spent my career in various election administration capacities, I feel I can add the election administration perspective to the existing messages that the ETC has been active in voicing over the last few years. Elevating the ETC's presence with election community stakeholders during this time of national discussion of voting technology is critical to the Council's continuing mission and its supporting role to election officials."

Beirne has close to a decade of practical experience in the conduct of U.S. elections combined with public affairs and media relations responsibilities for election jurisdictions. He comes to the ETC from the Harris County Clerk's Office in Houston, Texas where he has served as Director of Public Affairs for Harris County Clerk, Beverly Kaufman, for the past five years. Prior to his tenure in Harris County, Beirne served as Election Administrator for Fort Bend County, Texas (Sugarland) and Assistant to the Supervisor of Elections in Broward County, Florida (Fort Lauderdale).

Beirne has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Beirne is also a professionally Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) through the Election Center in Houston in partnership with Auburn University.

"David exemplifies a great example of the professional standards that have become a central part of the elections community over the last few years," said former United States Election Assistance Commissioner, Ray Martinez. "The Council and the elections community as a whole will continue to benefit from David's new role."

Alysoun McLaughlin, Associate Legislative Director for the National Association of Counties, adds "David is a brilliant choice and will be an extraordinary strategist and spokesperson for the elections industry. At a time that the U.S. Congress is looking at election reform, it is critical to have someone like David with front lines elections experience who can speak well to the legislative details of proposed election legislation from both an elections industry perspective as well as a local election official perspective."

ETC Chair and Senior Vice President of Government Relations at Election Systems & Software, John Groh states "The member companies are extremely pleased to have someone of David Beirne's caliber with extensive election administration experience as the ETC's new Executive Director. He will provide our group with focused leadership on election issues with a unique perspective and will put his proven skills to work in helping the ETC to educate our constituents on various issues related to the election reform that is going on right now in the USA."

Michelle Shafer, Vice-Chair of the ETC and Vice President of Communications and External Affairs for Sequoia Voting Systems, adds "We are thrilled to have David heading up the ETC and working closely with our member companies. I have known David for many years and have seen the results of his focused work in election administration, voter education and media relations first-hand. He will be a true asset to the ETC and will help us further our initiative of communication on critical voting technology issues at this time of intense debate on this topic."

The ETC is in the process of revamping its website and transitioning to new phone and email systems beginning June 1st. The group's new contact information will be distributed at that time. Until then, if members of the media or the election community have any questions or need additional information, please contact ETC Chairman John Groh at [e-mail] or ETC Vice-Chair Michelle Shafer at [e-mail].

About the Election Technology Council

The Election Technology Council (ETC) consists of companies that offer voting system technology hardware products, software and services to support the electoral process. These companies have organized as an Industry Trade Association to work together to address common issues facing our industry. Membership in the ETC is open to any company in the election systems marketplace. Current members of the Election Technology Council include Advanced Voting Systems, Diebold Election Systems, Election Systems & Software, Hart InterCivic and Sequoia Voting Systems.