Kelly Thomasson

Kelly Teal Thomasson Mercer (born July 7, 1979) is an American Democratic politician, who served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia from April 2016 to January 2022. Initially appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe, she continued as Secretary under the administration of Governor Ralph Northam. Prior to her appointment as Secretary, Thomasson served as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor McAuliffe.

Background Thomasson's family hails from Montpelier in Hanover County, Virginia. She joined Mark Warner's 2001 gubernatorial campaign, upon graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University. Although initially, she intended to pursue a master's degree in education, she instead accepted a job in Warner's administration after the election. Thomasson continued to work for Warner after he left the governor's office, spending a total of fourteen years in his employ. Among other positions, Thomasson served as Director of Scheduling during Warner's time as governor and as Projects Director after Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Career

McAuliffe administration In 2014, Thomasson was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia by Governor Terry McAuliffe. She served under Levar Stoney until April 2016, when Stoney resigned to run for Mayor of Richmond. Thomasson was then appointed by McAuliffe as Stoney's successor.

One week later, McAuliffe issued an executive order intended to grant a blanket restoration of civil rights to all released felons in the state (who were not on probation or parole). This would have impacted over 200,000 individuals. As Secretary of the Commonwealth, Thomasson's responsibilities include overseeing the restoration of rights to eligible Virginia residents. By the end of McAuliffe's term, over 169,000 individuals had their rights restored under this revised policy.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has called this restoration of rights "perhaps the most significant policy action" of McAuliffe's administration,

Thomasson also helped McAuliffe form the Governor's Millennial Civic Engagement Task Force in the Summer of 2017, which focused on promoting civic engagement among Virginia's college students.

Northam administration Thomasson has continued to serve as Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Ralph Northam.

Thomasson and her family live in Ashland, Virginia, where she serves on the board of the Ashland Main Street Association. She has also done publicity work for the Ashland Theater, a historic art deco theater built in the 1940s.