--News Release--

EAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SELECTED

WASHINGTON – The commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission have unanimously chosen Thomas R. Wilkey of Rensselaer, New York to be its executive director, effective June 20, 2005.

“Tom Wilkey has firsthand knowledge of every aspect of election administration,” said EAC Chair Gracia Hillman. “He understands the importance of making sure every vote counts, but he also knows the challenges state and local election officials face trying to meet that goal.

“My fellow commissioners and I agree that he has the perfect combination of experience and knowledge to lead the EAC, and we look forward to working with him to implement the Help America Vote Act of 2002.”

Wilkey has worked in election administration for 34 years, and currently he is the chair of the National Association of State Election Directors’ (NASED) Voting Systems Board. He is also the former president of NASED and one of its founding members. From 1992 to 2003 he was the executive director of the New York State Board of Elections.

"Tom Wilkey has many years of experience at both the local and state level,” said EAC Vice Chairman Paul DeGregorio. “He is respected throughout the nation for his keen understanding of the election process and of the requirements of HAVA. We are very fortunate that Tom Wilkey is available to serve the EAC in this important leadership role.”

Wilkey worked with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for many years, including serving on its Voting Systems Standards Committee and its Advisory Panel, which consisted of election administrators who advised the FEC on clearinghouse projects and allocation of funding for election administration projects.

In 1985, he was named New York State Board of Elections’ director of Election Operations, which was formed to oversee the state’s 57 county boards, and his responsibilities quickly expanded to include the supervision of the state’s voting systems certification program.

Wilkey began his career in elections in 1968 as an elections clerk in Erie County, New York and eventually became the county’s senior election deputy.

EAC’s executive director serves a four-year term. Duties include managing EAC’s daily operations, preparing program goals and long-term plans, managing the development of voluntary voting system guidelines, reviewing all reports and studies and overseeing the appointment of EAC staff members and consultants.

EAC is an independent bipartisan commission created by The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is charged with administering payments to states to meet HAVA requirements, implementing election administration improvements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines and serving as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration.

There are four EAC commissioners -- Gracia Hillman, chair; Paul DeGregorio, vice chairman; Ray Martinez III. One vacancy currently exists. To learn more about EAC, visit www.eac.gov.