Texas Governor Rick Perry has appointed a new secretary of state. Nandita Berry, a Houston attorney, has been named for the position, and will replace John Steen, who will be stepping down after the first of the year. This is the third time that Perry has had to name a new secretary of state in slightly over a year.

Due to Berry’s immense accomplishments, Perry saw it fit for her to be Steen’s replacement, making Berry the first Indian-American to be named the state’s chief elections officer. “Nandita Berry personifies what is possible through hard work and dedication in the State of Texas,” Perry said. “Arriving from India at the age of 21 with nothing but $200 to her name, she worked diligently to earn her law degree and has since become one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state. Her work ethic, intelligence and wide array of experiences will serve her capably in her new duties as Secretary of State, and I look forward to working with her to keep Texas the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.”

“I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless opportunities to be found across our great state,” Berry said. “Every day, I see Austin’s pioneering spirit alive in Texas, and this great honor proves once again Texas is the land of opportunity, both in the private sector and public service.”

Berry is the wife of conservative Houston radio talk-show host Michael Berry. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

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