SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

North Shelby resident Beth Chapman was the first statewide Republican candidate to officially qualify to run in the 2006 elections Monday when she paid her qualifying fee to the Alabama Republican Party to run for secretary of state.

Chapman was elected state auditor in 2002 and has made remarkable strides in that office. During her term, her agency took 25 percent cuts but produced an historic 96 perfect audits among state agencies.

&8220;Better results with less money,&8221; Chapman said. &8220;That&8217;s what the taxpayers want.&8221;

A lifelong Republican, Chapman said her campaign for secretary of state is being strongly supported by people of both parties.

&8220;It&8217;s amazing to see who some of my supporters are. Though I am life-long Republican, honest elections should be a bi-partisan issue.

All candidates and citizens should want honest elections and that&8217;s what I hope to give them,&8221; she said.

Chapman has raised campaign funds in excess of $100,000 already and is garnering strong support from fellow Republicans and reaching out to Democrats and Independents who have not been pleased with the way the secretary of state&8217;s office has been run in the past two years.

&8220;I have come to this race early and am prepared to stay late,&8221; Chapman said. &8220;I am running on a proven track record of serving with honesty and integrity, while providing the taxpayers with a more efficient and effective government in the office of state auditor.

I will do the same in the secretary of state&8217;s office and am willing to work twice as hard as anyone else to get there.&8221;

More information about Chapman is available on her website at www.bethchapman.com