Kansas Governor Laura Kelly honored with Distinguished Service to the States Award

CSG salutes Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for her longstanding leadership. As a state senator, Gov. Kelly was an active member of the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference. As governor, she helped guide CSG through the challenges of the pandemic, serving two consecutive terms as the CSG National President. Kelly has been an ambassador for civility in politics – a cause CSG has long championed. For her sustained support and valued leadership at both the regional and national levels, CSG is proud to recognize Gov. Kelly with the Distinguished Service to the States Award.

CSG mourns the passing of former Alaska Rep. Craig Johnson

The Council of State Governments remembers former Alaska Rep. Craig Johnson, who began his career in the Alaska House of Representatives in 2007 and served as CSG West Chair in 2014.

“Craig was a valued leader at CSG and a catalyst for the camaraderie our members look to CSG to provide,” said David Adkins, CSG executive director and CEO. “He embodied the best values of Alaska and loved showing off the beauty and grandeur of his state to legislators from around the nation. His service and leadership made a difference for the citizens he served, the colleagues he served with, and all of us at CSG. We send our condolences to his family and to all who join us in mourning his passing.”

Jerry Bassett, former director of Alabama’s Legislative Services Agency, honored with Distinguished Service to the States Award

CSG honored Jerry Bassett with the CSG Distinguished Service to the States Award for his years of dedicated service leading and supporting the Shared State Legislation Committee, a national legacy program of CSG. A former agency director, Bassett also served as senior counsel to the Legislative Services Agency in the Alabama Legislative Services Agency Director’s Office. In his role as a committee officer, he helped create a valuable resource for all state leaders and played a key role in identifying emerging policy trends. Through his efforts, he has helped states respond to challenges and equipped today’s state leaders to better govern their states.