Governor Steve Beshear announced today that he will appoint Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker as Kentucky’s new secretary of state.

“It is an honor to be selected by Governor Beshear to serve the Commonwealth as Secretary of State,” Walker said in a press release. “I pledge to the Governor and to all the citizens of Kentucky that I will perform the functions of this important position in an honorable, thoughtful and dedicated manner.”

City Attorney Gene Harmon said the city commission will have 30 days once Walker’s resignation is official to select a new mayor. They can select one of the four remaining commissioners or someone outside the city commission.

If the commission fails to select a new mayor in 30 days, Beshear will then appoint one.

Walker can either offer a written resignation or give up the mayor position by being sworn in as secretary of state, Harmon said. The resignation then becomes official at the next city commission meeting.

Harmon said he expected there would be a special election in November to fill the remaining two years of the mayor’s term.

Current Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who lost the republican primary for U.S. Senate to Rand Paul earlier this year, will soon resign the position to accept a job at Harvard University, according to the governor’s press release.

Walker said in the release she plans to file and run for a full term for Secretary of State.