Indo-American Appointed Texas Secretary Of State

WASHINGTON – Indo-American attorney NanditaVenkateswaran Berry hasbeen appointed the Secretaryof State for Texas, makingher the first person of Indianorigin to hold the third topexecutive job in the southernstate.Announcing theappointment of Berry, 45,Governor Rick Perry calledthe Houston-based attorneyone of the most accomplishedin the state. She steps intooffice on January 7.As the 109th TexasSecretary of State, Ms Berrywould also become the state’schief elections officer; thegovernor’s liaison on borderand Mexican affairs andTexas’ chief protocol officerfor state and internationalmatters.Her office also servesas the formal repository forofficial and business records;publishes government rulesand regulations, keeps thestate seal and attests to thegovernor’s signature onofficial documents.Ms Berry has been on theboard of several institutionsincluding the Houston Zoo,the South Asian Chamberof Commerce, the HoustonArea Women’s Centre, andthe Community FamilyCentre of Houston.“Nandita Berrypersonifies what is possiblethrough hard work anddedication in the State ofTexas,” Mr Perry said in arelease.“Arriving from India atthe age of 21 with nothingbut $200 to her name, sheworked diligently to earnher law degree and has sincebecome one of the mostaccomplished attorneys inthe state.“Her work ethic,intelligence and wide arrayof experiences will serve hercapably in her new duties asSecretary of State, and I lookforward to working with herto keep Texas the best placein the country to live, workand raise a family.”