Meet Terri Lynn Land

Biography
Experience as Kent County Clerk
Professional Appointments
Political Offices and Activities
Community Activities

Biography

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land was elected to office in November of 2002. With more than 1.7 million votes, she carried more votes than any other candidate on that year’s ballot, securing her place as Michigan’s top-elected Republican official.

Since taking office on January 1, 2003, Secretary Land has worked to make government services more reliable, user-friendly and efficient. From offering expanded hours to instituting cutting-edge technology in branch offices, the department as a whole has provided services faster, easier and more conveniently than ever before. Such improvements, which also include reducing bricks and mortar expenses across the state, reflect a customer driven-approach while saving taxpayer dollars.

Secretary Land’s commitment to efficiency is also reflected in her unique blend of an open door policy and a hands-on management style. Since her first statewide tour of every branch office in early 2003, she has worked closely with the department’s 1800 employees - the front line of customer service. As a result of such efforts, Secretary Land has gained an intimate knowledge of what improvements are required to make services as easy as possible for the customer. One such accomplishment includes the consolidation of the Department of State’s executive offices in Lansing. By centralizing services, customers can take advantage of one-stop shopping, while the move has saved an incredible $1.3 million a year.

Her open door policy also extends into elections administration, where Land serves as Chief Elections Official. Since 2003, Michigan has received nearly $100 million in federal funding through the “Help America Vote Act,” which requires states to upgrade outdated voting equipment. With Land’s leadership, Michigan is now unified under one optical scan system, which allows voters to use the same ballot whether voting absentee or in person. The one-system approach has also resulted in less confusion for election day workers, ensuring a fair and consistently administered election throughout the state. Her vocal support of accurate and efficient elections has also contributed to the recent implementation of consolidated elections for the first time in Michigan, which has eliminated “stealth” elections and reduced voter confusion.

With more than three years under her belt, Secretary Land looks forward to accomplishing her goals, which include advocating elections reforms, updating the department’s outdated computer system, and securing one million names on Michigan’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry list.

A longtime Republican activist, Land has served as Precinct Delegate, County Party Executive Director, County Chair, State Committeewoman and District Chair. She was first involved during her high school years, when she served as a "scatter blitzer" for the Gerald R. Ford for President campaign. A budding politician from Grandville High School, she was one of the youngest attendees at the 1978 Republican State Convention. Most recently, she has served as Michigan Co-Chair for the Bush-Cheney 2004 reelection campaign, where she brought her trademark enthusiasm and grassroots activism to the campaign trail.

The granddaughter of Dutch immigrants, Land held her first job as a teenager. She worked alongside her Grandma Jenny as they cleaned rooms in the family’s hotel. It was this family business that taught Secretary Land the value of hard work.

Of all her accomplishments, Secretary Land is most proud of her family. She married Dan Hibma in 1983, and the couple has two children together, Jessica and Nicholas. They attend Corinth Reformed Church, where Secretary Land was nursery supervisor for many years. A graduate of Grandville High School, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

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Experience as Kent County Clerk:

• Member, Michigan Association of County Clerks, 1992-2000; Director, District 4, two terms; Legislative Committee, two terms
• Member, Judicial Information Systems Advisory Commission (appointed by Chief Justice of Mich. Supreme Court), 1997-1998
• Member, J-NET Committee developing information systems for Kent County criminal justice system, 1992-2000
• Kent County Parks Advisory Committee, 1997-2000
• Member, Justice Planning Commission for New Hall of Justice
• Chairman, Kent County Election Scheduling Committee, 1992-2000
• Clerk of: 17th Circuit Court of the State of Michigan; Concealed Weapons Licensing Board; Jury Commission; Plat Board; Sinking Fund Commission, 1992-2000
• Member, Election Commission, 1992-2000
• Planning Committee for National County Government Week

Professional Appointments:

• Secretary, Attorney Grievance Commission, Present
• Secchia Millennium Commission, 2000
• Member, Community Archives & Research Center, 1997-Present
• Member, 54 Jefferson Study Committee, 1997-Present

Political Offices and Activities:

• Ex-Officio Member, Kent County Republican Executive Committee (Candidate Recruitment Committee, Finance Committee)
• Delegate/Alternate Delegate, Michigan Republican State Conventions, 1978-Present
• Precinct Delegate, 1978-1992
• Chairman, Kent County Republican Committee, 1989-1991
• Alternate Delegate, Republican National Convention, 1992
• Co-Chairman, MRSC Lake Michigan Barbecue, 1988-1991
• Member, Michigan State Republican Committee (Policy Committee), 1978-1988
• Republican candidate for Michigan House of Representatives, 1982
• Executive Director, Ottawa County Republican Committee, 1981-1982
• Volunteer "Scatter Blitzer," Ford for President, Kent County Republican Committee, 1976
• Bush/Quayle, Engler, State Committees, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998
• Member, The Republican Women's Forum, 1992-Present
• Member, Gerald R. Ford Republican Women's Club, 1989-Present
• Member, George Bush for President, Michigan State Finance Committee, 2000

Community Activities:

• Member, Board of Directors, American Heart Association, 1995-1999
• Member, Board of Directors, Junior Achievement Alumni Board, 1997-1999
• Member, Board of Directors, Potters House Foundation, 1997-Present
• Member, Board of Directors, Project Rehab Foundation, 1997-1998
• Member, Byron Center Community Fine Arts Council, 1997-Present
• President, Byron Center Historical Society, 1990-1992, Member since 1983
• Member, U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, 1996-Present
• Member, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, 1997-Present
• Member, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, 1992-Present
• Member, Frederick Meijer Gardens, 1995-Present
• Member, Friends of Van Andel Museum, 1995-Present
• President, Byron Center Fine Arts Foundation, 1999-Present
• Member, Friends of John Ball Zoological Park, 1995-Present
• Member, Grand Rapids Early Morning Riser's Club, 1992-Present
• Member, Corinth Reformed Church, 1983-Present
• Member, Grandville Rotary, 1990-April 1999
• Member, Grand Rapids Rotary, May 1999-Present
• Member, Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation Board, 2000-Present
• Vice President, Board of Directors, Women's Resource Center, May 2001-Present, Member since 1999