State's Election Law Unit chief takes over as Dep. Sec. of State

From left, Secretary of State David Scanlan, newly appointed Deputy Sec. of State Brendan O'Donnell (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - Secretary of State David Scanlan has announced that Deputy Secretary of State Erin Hennessey has decided to leave the Secretary of State's office and pursue other interests. In a parting statement Ms. Hennessey said, "For over a decade, I have had the honor of serving the state of New Hampshire as the Deputy Secretary of State, State Senator, and State Representative. Now, it is time for me to step away and focus on the next phase of my life and work."

Secretary of State Scanlan expressed his appreciation for the knowledge, experience and dedication that she brought to the office.

"For the past three and a half years, Erin has been instrumental in helping to guide policy and implement important administrative improvements to the elections process, and she has been fun to work with. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors," Scanlan said.

Brendan O'Donnell of Canterbury has been appointed by Secretary Scanlan to fill the vacancy left by Ms. Hennessey, and he will serve as the Deputy Secretary of State as provided in the State Constitution.

Prior to accepting this appointment, Mr. O'Donnell was serving as Senior Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Election Law Unit at the New Hampshire Department of Justice. In that role, he was primarily responsible for investigating and enforcing alleged violations of New Hampshire laws related to election procedure, wrongful voting, campaign activity, political advertising, lobbying, and notarial acts.

Mr. O'Donnell's previous legal experience includes representing New Hampshire municipalities as an attorney at Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella, PLLC; working as a judicial law clerk for former New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert J. Lynn; and teaching legal writing classes as an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law.

Mr. O'Donnell is a New Hampshire native and values giving back to his community by volunteering on local municipal boards. Most recently, he has been serving as an elected planning board member in the Town of Canterbury.

On the appointment, Scanlan said, "I am excited to bring Brendan on as Deputy Secretary of State. With his great experience, he will be able to hit the ground running. He is a seasoned attorney, has a great demeanor, and is an expert in New Hampshire's election laws."

"I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as Deputy Secretary of State," said Mr. O'Donnell. "I want to thank the other members of the Election Law Unit for their hard work and dedication to ensuring New Hampshire elections continue to be free, secure, and transparent, and I look forward to continuing that work with the excellent people at the Secretary of State's Office."