Alabama Secretary of State resigns

Secretary of State Beth Chapman plans to resign Aug. 1 and enter private business.  Chapman said this morning that she has an offer in government and public relations consulting that she can't pass up, and she will end her decade in public office to take the position.  Chapman served four years as state auditor before defeating Democratic incumbent Nancy Worley to win the secretary of state's office in 2006. She won re-election in 2010. By law, she couldn't run for a third term in 2014. Chapman said if that had been an option, she likely would have done it.  Republican Gov. Robert Bentley will appoint someone to fill out the remaining 17 months of Chapman's term.