Michigan Secretary of State

Terri Land

Biography

 As Secretary of State, she plans to build on the technology base and expand user-friendly programs that would increase the number of Internet users, ensure that flextime and lead workers are used in the Secretary of State branch offices to allow for longer hours and greater flexibility to meet customer needs and visit every branch office within the first year to assess the needs and to evaluate the office system. Ms. Land will take office on January 1st, 2002.

Prior to her election, Ms. Land served as Kent County Clerk (from 1992-2000) at a time of tremendous change and growth in Michigan’s 4th largest county. Secretary-Elect Land concentrated on making county government more "user-friendly" to the public. By working and building coalitions with other members of county government, local and statewide judges, the State legislature, and the voters, Ms. Land made sure that elections and vital record keeping were 100% accurate and accessible. Also, she has been a leader in enforcing compliance with Campaign Finance Laws and working with the Qualified Voter File.

Secretary-Elect Land’s involvement in politics stretches back to her high school years, where 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 Republican State Convention in 1978.

Heavy involvement with community organizations is also one of Ms. Land’s hallmarks. She is actively involved with the Metropolitan Hospital Foundation, Potter's House, Byron Center Fine Arts Foundation, Van Singel Community Fine Arts Council, and the Women’s Resource Center, to name just a few. In her spare time, the secretary-elect enjoys gardening and water-skiing.

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

Sincerely

Terri Land

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