Keith Burdette
Keith Burdette is a former West Virginia secretary of commerce. He was appointed to the position by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on December 20, 2010. He was succeeded by H. Woody Thrasher in January 2017.[1][2]
Biography
Burdette entered public service in 1978 when he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. After serving two terms, he was elected to the West Virginia State Senate where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the youngest President of the Senate in the state's history. He left the legislature in 1994 to form a government relations and consulting business, but later returned to public service following the 2000 election of Bob Wise as the Mountain State's governor. In November 2004 Burdette was hired to manage and operate the Area Roundtable and the Wood County Development Authority, where he served until his appointment as commerce secretary.[3]
Political career
West Virginia Secretary of Commerce (2011-2017)
Burdette was first appointed secretary in December 2010 and took office in January 2011. He was succeeded by H. Woody Thrasher in January 2017.[2]
West Virginia State Senate (1982-1994)
Burdette was first elected to the first of his three terms in the state senate in 1982, when he was just 27 years old. He served as a member of both the Finance and Judiciary committees. During his second term, Burdette became Majority Leader and in September 1989 became the youngest person ever elected President of the Senate in West Virginia at just 34 years old.
While in the Senate, Burdette worked to reform the state's ethics laws and overhaul education funding and the Public Insurance Program.
West Virginia House of Delegates (1978-1982)
Burdette was just 22 years old when he first won election to the West Virginia House of Delegates, making him one of the chamber's youngest members ever. He served for two terms before being elected to the West Virginia State Senate.
Appointments
2010
Burdette was appointed to serve as the West Virginia Secretary of Commerce by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on December 20, 2010. Tomblin stated, “Keith has a very strong combination of legislative knowledge and a thorough business acumen that will allow West Virginia’s strong and growing presence in the global business community to continue."[4]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Burdette was named the West Virginia Jaycees Outstanding Young West Virginian in 1991. The following year, the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce named him one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans.
Burdette and his wife, Pat, live in Parkersburg. He has two sons and two stepsons.[3]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Keith + Burdette + West + Virginia"
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ WTAP.com, "Keith Burdette appointed cabinet secretary of WV state department of commerce," December 20, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, "Justice names Thrasher to secretary of commerce post," December 28, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Office of the Governor of West Virginia, "Cabinet profiles: Keith Burdette," accessed January 3, 2012
- ↑ The News Center, "Keith Burdette Appointed Cabinet Secretary Of WV State Department Of Commerce," December 20, 2010
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
West Virginia Secretary of Commerce 2011-2017 |
Succeeded by H. Woody Thrasher |
| ||||||||||||||
